1143 | 34 | From geopolitics to geo-setting: The idea, agenda and approaches of geo-setting research in China

In the past 12 years, geo-setting research has become one of the key points in China’s geopolitical research, gathering many China’s geopolitical research groups and promoting the revival of China’s geopolitical studies. Based on the latest developments and trends of geopolitics and geo-setting research, this paper focuses on the idea, agenda and approaches of geo-setting research in China. Centered on the interactive practices of multiple geo-actors, its idea regards the geo-setting as the “information” or decision-making dataset for their interactive practices, which also results from their interactions. Thus, geo-actors’ decisions or actions can be made under complete information, incomplete information, or even when true or false information cannot be distinguished. Under this new thought, its agenda generally includes three items: (1) the analysis of geo-setting elements (including fundamental, relational and structural elements); (2) the spatio-temporal process and mechanism of geo-setting; (3) the design of geo-setting technical system. In order to integrate different fields, various scales and multiple actors, this paper takes the conflict in northern Myanmar as an example to present three approaches of geo-setting research, namely, cross-field interaction, cross-scale coupling and multiple geo-actors’ game playing. Under current complex situation of once-in-a-century changes and COVID-19 pandemic, clarifying the idea, agenda and approaches of geo- setting studies is of great theoretical value and practical significance for accurately and scientifically analysing the current complex situation and proposing China’s response strategies.

Zhe Zhang; Hu Zhiding
East China Normal University; Royal Holloway University of London

ID Abstract: 34