From June 3–4, 2025, the Empirical Studies of Conflict (ESOC) International Research Program held its annual Policy and Research Conference in Asia for the first time, hosted by the College of Social Sciences at National Taiwan University (NTU). The event gathered leading scholars in political science, economics, and conflict studies to address topics such as international conflict, political violence, governance, information operations, and security development. It marked a milestone for Taiwan, strengthening NTU’s global academic presence and advancing research capacity in geopolitical risk analysis, policy recommendations, and talent cultivation.
The conference centered on emerging security challenges in Asia, set against the backdrop of heightened regional tensions, authoritarian expansion, and great-power rivalry. Using empirical, data-driven approaches, participants examined policy options and conflict responses with a strong foundation in causal inference and cross-national comparison.
Distinguished speakers included 2007 Nobel laureate Roger Myerson (University of Chicago), who discussed mechanism design, governance theory, and their applications to conflict stabilization; Jacob Shapiro (Princeton University), who analyzed terrorist group operations and insurgency dynamics (June 2); and Eli Berman (UC San Diego, June 6) and Aila M. Matanock (UC Berkeley, June 5), who presented research on religious extremism, proxy wars, and international state-building. Moreover, James D. Fearon (Stanford) also gave a talk on his most recent research on the balance of terror (June 2).
A highlight was the interdisciplinary discussion of geopolitical risks, with panels exploring cyber warfare, energy dependence, diplomatic sanctions, and the semiconductor industry. Scholars from leading global universities shared cutting-edge quantitative methods, fieldwork skills, and data-sharing mechanisms, connecting Taiwan’s academic community with the latest advancements in conflict research.
The conference bridged academic research and policy dialogue, engaging think tanks, policy institutions, and multilateral organizations to transform research findings into actionable strategies, particularly for Asia-Pacific security challenges. Beyond academic gains, the event reinforced Taiwan’s role as a regional policy research hub and enhanced its voice in the global strategic landscape.
The “Empirical Studies of Conflict (ESOC) Research and Policy Conference” was held at NTU’s College of Social Sciences on June 3–4, 2025.
From left: Dean Yu-tzung Chang (NTU), Prof. Eli Berman (UC San Diego), Prof. Roger Myerson (2007 Nobel Laureate, University of Chicago), President Wen-Chang Chen (NTU), Prof. Renard Sexton (Emory), Prof. Jacob N. Shapiro (Princeton), Prof. James D. Fearon (Stanford), Prof. Aila M. Matanock (UC Berkeley), and Prof. Hans H. Tung (NTU).
On June 4, after the closing ceremony, participating scholars gathered for a group photo, bidding farewell until next time.