China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations
Encyclopedia
The China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR ; ) is among China’s largest and oldest civilian research institutions for international studies. Located in Beijing
, the Institute is affiliated with China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS), and overseen by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China
.
CICIR has a staff of approximately 400, including 150 senior research fellows. It consists of 11 departments with different regional and functional concentrations, as well as two research divisions focusing on the Korean Peninsula
and Central Asia
, and eight research centers. CICIR publishes the influential journal Contemporary International Relations (Xiandai Guoji Guanxi).
and Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945). Specifically, these early intelligence operations targeted the US Dixie Mission
and the Soviet presence in Communist Party bases in Yan’an during the 1940s.
In 1964, then-Premier Zhou Enlai
ordered the creation of several colleges and university departments to focus on international affairs. A number of ministries, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
and the Ministry of Public Security
, established their own think tanks and research organizations under the decree. CICIR was established in 1965. At that time, it fell under the Foreign Affairs Leading Group of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, and served a number of senior Communist Party officials. CICIR was the only international relations institute or university in China that did not close during the tumultuous years of the Cultural Revolution
.
In 1980, amidst Deng Xiaoping
’s reforms and openings to the outside world, CICIR was designated an “open” institution, and was authorized to engage with foreigners as a means of enhancing intelligence collection. It began publishing the journal Xiandai Guoji Guangxi (Contemporary International Relations) in 1981. The journal became quarterly in 1986, and has been published monthly since 1993.
In 1983, CICIR was placed under the bureaucratic management of the newly created Ministry of State Security (MSS). In 1999, it was again placed under the Communist Party’s Central Committee, maintaining strong organizational ties to the MSS and Foreign Affairs Leading Group.
In 2003, CICIR changed it name from the China Institute of International Relations to the China Institutes of International Relations.
The institute has held considerable influence over China's foreign policy decision-making process due in part to its close organizational proximity to the Communist Party's Central Committee, the Foreign Affairs Leading Group
, the Foreign Affairs Office, and the MSS. The institute's relevance to the foreign policy process is further bolstered by its large research staff and ability to produce timely intelligence analysis. This influence has been in decline since the mid-1990s, however, coinciding with the death or retirement of some of its senior researchers, and the growing influence of the Foreign Ministry in foreign policy decision-making.
The organization has two research divisions under the direct control of CICIR leaders:
CICIR is also home to eight research centers:
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, the Institute is affiliated with China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS), and overseen by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China
Central Committee of the Communist Party of China
The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China is the highest authority within the Communist Party of China. Its approximately 350 members and alternates are selected once every five years by the National Party Congress....
.
CICIR has a staff of approximately 400, including 150 senior research fellows. It consists of 11 departments with different regional and functional concentrations, as well as two research divisions focusing on the Korean Peninsula
Korean Peninsula
The Korean Peninsula is a peninsula in East Asia. It extends southwards for about 684 miles from continental Asia into the Pacific Ocean and is surrounded by the Sea of Japan to the south, and the Yellow Sea to the west, the Korea Strait connecting the first two bodies of water.Until the end of...
and Central Asia
Central Asia
Central Asia is a core region of the Asian continent from the Caspian Sea in the west, China in the east, Afghanistan in the south, and Russia in the north...
, and eight research centers. CICIR publishes the influential journal Contemporary International Relations (Xiandai Guoji Guanxi).
History
David Shambaugh traces the origins of the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations to the Communist Party’s intelligence operations during the Chinese civil warChinese Civil War
The Chinese Civil War was a civil war fought between the Kuomintang , the governing party of the Republic of China, and the Communist Party of China , for the control of China which eventually led to China's division into two Chinas, Republic of China and People's Republic of...
and Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945). Specifically, these early intelligence operations targeted the US Dixie Mission
Dixie Mission
The United States Army Observation Group, commonly known as the Dixie Mission, was the first U.S. effort to establish official relations with the Communist Party of China and the People's Liberation Army, then headquartered in the mountainous city of Yan'an...
and the Soviet presence in Communist Party bases in Yan’an during the 1940s.
In 1964, then-Premier Zhou Enlai
Zhou Enlai
Zhou Enlai was the first Premier of the People's Republic of China, serving from October 1949 until his death in January 1976...
ordered the creation of several colleges and university departments to focus on international affairs. A number of ministries, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China is an executive agency responsible for foreign relations between the People's Republic of China and other countries in the world. The agency is led by the Foreign Minister. The current minister is Yang Jiechi...
and the Ministry of Public Security
Ministry of Public Security of the People's Republic of China
The Ministry of Public Security , is the principal police and security authority of the mainland of the People's Republic of China and the government agency that exercises oversight over and is ultimately responsible for day-to-day law enforcement...
, established their own think tanks and research organizations under the decree. CICIR was established in 1965. At that time, it fell under the Foreign Affairs Leading Group of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, and served a number of senior Communist Party officials. CICIR was the only international relations institute or university in China that did not close during the tumultuous years of the Cultural Revolution
Cultural Revolution
The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, commonly known as the Cultural Revolution , was a socio-political movement that took place in the People's Republic of China from 1966 through 1976...
.
In 1980, amidst Deng Xiaoping
Deng Xiaoping
Deng Xiaoping was a Chinese politician, statesman, and diplomat. As leader of the Communist Party of China, Deng was a reformer who led China towards a market economy...
’s reforms and openings to the outside world, CICIR was designated an “open” institution, and was authorized to engage with foreigners as a means of enhancing intelligence collection. It began publishing the journal Xiandai Guoji Guangxi (Contemporary International Relations) in 1981. The journal became quarterly in 1986, and has been published monthly since 1993.
In 1983, CICIR was placed under the bureaucratic management of the newly created Ministry of State Security (MSS). In 1999, it was again placed under the Communist Party’s Central Committee, maintaining strong organizational ties to the MSS and Foreign Affairs Leading Group.
In 2003, CICIR changed it name from the China Institute of International Relations to the China Institutes of International Relations.
Functions and Influence
CICIR is identified by Stratfor Global Intelligence as belonging to the 8th Bureau of the Ministry of State Security, China's main intelligence agency, and provides intelligence reports to the Politburo Standing Committee of the Communist Party of ChinaPolitburo Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China
The Politburo Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China is a committee consisting of the top leadership of the Communist Party of China, whose membership varies between 5 and 9 people. The inner workings of the PSC are not well known, although it is believed that decisions of the PSC are...
The institute has held considerable influence over China's foreign policy decision-making process due in part to its close organizational proximity to the Communist Party's Central Committee, the Foreign Affairs Leading Group
Foreign Affairs Leading Small Group of the Communist Party of China
The Foreign Affairs Leading Small Group of the Communist Party of China also known as the Leading Group on Foreign Affairs is a leading small group of the Communist Party of China that exercises supervision on foreign affairs...
, the Foreign Affairs Office, and the MSS. The institute's relevance to the foreign policy process is further bolstered by its large research staff and ability to produce timely intelligence analysis. This influence has been in decline since the mid-1990s, however, coinciding with the death or retirement of some of its senior researchers, and the growing influence of the Foreign Ministry in foreign policy decision-making.
Institutes and divisions
CICIR comprises eleven distinct research institutes, each with its own regional or functional focus:- Institute of Russian Studies
- Institute of American Studies
- Institute of Latin-American Studies
- Institute of European Studies
- Institute of Japanese Studies
- Institute of South and Southeast Asian Studies
- Institute of West Asian and African Studies
- Institute of Information and Social Development Studies
- Institute of Security and Arms Control Studies
- Institute of World Political Studies
- Institute of World Economic Studies
The organization has two research divisions under the direct control of CICIR leaders:
- Division for Korean Peninsula Studies
- Division for Central Asian Studies
CICIR is also home to eight research centers:
- Center for Hong Kong and Macao-related Studies
- Center for Ethnic and Religious Studies
- Center for Globalization Studies
- Center for Taiwan-related Studies
- Center for Counter-Terrorism Studies
- Center for Crisis Management Studies
- Center for Economic Security Studies
- Center for Marine Strategy Studies