The rise of China (PRC) is one of the most crucial developments that has shaped every major aspect of the contemporary world. China has accumulated its economic power, which has now transformed into formidable political influence in international relations. Here, we study how the rise of China affects the power structure of the existing international order, how an assertive China changes the cross-strait security relationship, and how China's political elites and its society have influenced its foreign economic strategies. At the IPS, we guide students to develop in-depth understandings of the current state and prospects of cross-strait relations and encourage young scholars to develop diverse and innovative research approaches to analyzing the complicated dimensions of China's rise.

International relations are constantly evolving. When we become accustomed to a world of peace, will we have thus neglected the underlying causes of large-scale conflicts? Globalization that was once taken for granted may be only transient and reversible. In the face of a highly uncertain international situation, we study today's global citizens with advanced analytic tools to comprehend the fast-moving world and provide solutions to pressing global issues such as pandemics and climate change.

The IPS offers graduate seminars and lectures that introduce young scholars to the major security, political, and socioeconomic issues regarding Taiwan’s politics and policies. In addition to confronting the most sensitive political issues concerning Taiwan’s legitimacy and political future, we enrich our learning by discussing how democracy could be consolidated in Taiwan. From the constitutional level, institutional level, and elite level to the mass public level, our topics of discussion and debates cover (but are not limited to) the influence of social (news) media on human beings and behavior, public opinion, the rise of dictatorship, and the sustainability of democracy.

While it is important that young scholars be trained to analyze the empirical phenomena of politics, it is imperative that graduate students build a solid intellectual foundation of political theory and thoughts on which they make sound judgments regarding pressing political issues. Here, we also embrace the invaluable connection between thoughts and practice. Through courses on methodology and Eastern and Western political thinking, we gain various perspectives to make sense of and reflect on the political reality. This series of trainings, including those that are compatible with courses in public administration and policy, will equip students with the ability to face and deal with the complexity of the political world and public affairs.

We provide systematic training in political communication, political psychology, political sociology, and many cross-disciplinary opportunities to explore human nature in today’s E-society. We embrace the use of both big and small data. Students will have the opportunity to learn in the disciplines of sociology, public administration, communication, information management, and data science. Here at the IPS, we emphasize the meaning and reasoning of the findings drawn from data, which means that graduate students will be trained to carefully interpret data and communicate their ideas responsibly through data. These seminars not only help build students’ confidence in seeking careers in business, media, and government but also enrich their lifelong insight into today’s politics and global affairs.