Abstract
This article examines the development background, driving forces, and process of paradigm
formation in China’s “Country and Region Studies” (CRS). Since CRS was designated as a first-lev-
el discipline in 2022, there has been significant progress in its institutionalization and develop-
ment. The study analyses both the internal and external drivers behind this progress, focusing
on the academic community’s efforts to build a “Chinese-characteristic” paradigm and the influ-
ence of national strategic needs. The article also reviews the evolution of the field from its early
stages to its current institutionalization and, through tools like VOSviewer, identifies the key re-
search topics and challenges in knowledge production today. The findings suggest that China’s
country and region studies are still in the nascent stage of discipline building. While there has
been notable development, further refinement of the academic structure and knowledge pro-
duction systems is essential to fully establish a “Chinese-characteristic” paradigm in this field.