How Epistemic Community Shapes Global Governance of AI in Military Domain?

This article analyzes the role of the epistemic community—networks of experts sharing common beliefs and policy goals—in shaping global governance of artificial intelligence (AI) applications in the military domain, with a particular focus on Chinese academic and policy actors. Using social network analysis and case studies based on an original dataset of international collaborations since 2013, the research finds that while Chinese institutions are increasingly active and well-connected domestically, they lag behind Western counterparts in knowledge production, influence over information flow, and engagement with diverse stakeholders such as intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) and defense entities. Western and European institutions, often supported by closer government ties, dominate in coordinating multinational efforts, producing research, and establishing cooperative mechanisms, whereas Chinese actors primarily engage through Track 2 dialogues and academic conferences, with limited involvement in broader multilateral governance forums. The study highlights structural factors like regime type and institutional attributes but emphasizes that collective socializing and functional practices within the epistemic community enable cross-regime collaboration, suggesting that enhancing Chinese participation in international networks and stakeholder engagement is crucial for more balanced global governance of military AI.