Research Interests: 

My research interests lie at the intersection of international security and comparative politics, with particular emphasis on the interplay between regime type and foreign policymaking. One line of inquiry examines how both authoritarian and democratic institutions shape, constrain, or incentivize the adoption of extremist foreign policies. The second line of research investigates the strategic behaviors of authoritarian regimes when engaging with democratic countries. Methodologically, I tend to employ game theoretical models and text-as-data methods in my research.

1. Tian, X. ; Mendes, C. (2021) “Rethinking tribute system and Chinese foreign aid from a relational perspective (in English)” Relações Internacionais. 71, 87-103. 

2. Mendes, C. ; Tian, X. (2020) “The political and economic motivations behind China’s presence in Angola (in Portuguese)” Relações Internacionais. 65, 57-70.

3. Tian, X. (2020) “Beijing’s Image in the eyes of Brazilian (in Chinese)” in Ma, S.; Shao, Y. (eds.) Overseas Perception Survey of Beijing. Beijing: Social Sciences Academic Press (China), 229-256.

1. Tian, X. (2024). Why the US Failed to Curb North Korean Nuclearization through Engagement and Deterrence? [Research article]. Social Science Research Network (SSRN). DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5005861. 

2. Tian, X. (2024). Realpolitik in Peacebuilding: Unveiling the Dynamics of US Foreign Aid to Post-Conflict Countries [Research article]. Social Science Research Network (SSRN). DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5005857. 

3. Tian, X. (2023). Claiming the Unclaimable Sovereignty in the Cyberspace [Research article]. Social Science Research Network (SSRN). DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5005839. 

4. Tian, X. (2023). Democracy on the Wheelbarrow: Exploring the Relationship between Informal Economy and Autocratic Regime Breakdown [Research article]. Social Science Research Network(SSRN). DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5005846. 

1. Tian, X. (July 2024). Realpolitik in Peacebuilding: Unveiling the Dynamics of US Foreign Aid to Post-Conflict Countries. 17th Meeting of Chinese Community of Political Science and International Studies, Tsinghua Unversity, Beijing.