With the standardization and scientific development of the discipline of international relations in China, empirical research has seen rapid growth. However, amid the widespread emphasis on empirical research methods, the field of international relations has encountered notable issues that warrant attention and reflection. These include a tendency to prioritize technical aspects over theoretical principles, a preference for novelty over addressing substantive questions, and a shift in research problems driven more by data convenience than theoretical curiosity. There is even a discernible trend of constructing theories based on the relationships between independent and dependent variables obtained through empirical analysis.

In response to these concerns, the Global Risk Politics Analysis Lab at Peking University and the International Relations Data and Computation Lab at Tsinghua University are co-hosting a series of roundtable events on "Empirical Game Analysis." These sessions aim to discuss the underlying reasons for these issues and explore constructive improvements. The forums seek to investigate the feasibility of mutual regulation and promotion between international relations theory and empirical research. The roundtables will re-examine the value of game theory as a rigorous and mathematically logical method of theoretical construction, exploring how empirical strategies can be designed based on transparent assumptions and process tracking. Additionally, the forums will delve into the mechanisms through which "empiricability" can facilitate theoretical construction.

Conducted in a roundtable format, the forums invite scholars with expertise in both game theory and empirical methods for free exchange of ideas and intellectual collisions. The organizers anticipate that further extensive discussions within the academic community will lead to more questions and answers, collectively advancing the development and progress of the discipline.