AI Technologies and International Relations: Do We Need New Analytical Frameworks?

Area of Science:

• International Relations (IR)
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) Studies

Background:

• AI technologies are increasingly significant in international relations (IR).
• Existing scholarship on AI in IR has a longer trajectory than often assumed.
• The field is consolidating around key themes and analytical frameworks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and analyze the existing body of scholarship on artificial intelligence (AI) in international relations (IR).
• To assess the extent to which AI in IR studies utilize or challenge established analytical frameworks.
• To identify key themes and emerging research directions within the field.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review of scholarship on AI in IR.
• Analysis of conceptualizations and analytical frameworks used in the reviewed studies.
• Thematic analysis to identify core and emerging research areas.

Main Results:

• AI in IR scholarship centers on four main themes: balance of power, disinformation, governance, and ethics.
• Most studies employ well-established IR conceptualizations.
• Emerging themes like reconceptualizing technology, moving beyond the "AI arms race," and unpacking relevant actors expand disciplinary boundaries.

Conclusions:

• The scholarship on AI in IR is a growing and evolving field.
• While many studies rely on traditional IR frameworks, a subset is actively pushing theoretical boundaries.
• Future research can benefit from exploring these emerging themes to deepen the understanding of AI's impact on international relations.