Zhe Ren is a Research Fellow at the Institute of Developing Economies (IDE-JETRO), Japan, and currently a Visiting Scholar at the International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS), Netherlands. As a political scientist, his work focuses on contemporary China, exploring inter-governmental relations, state-society dynamics, and urban development. During his visit at IIAS, he is particularly examining urban politics in Europe, expanding his comparative perspective on urban governance.
His current book project investigates the discretionary power of township and village leaders in the contexts of urbanization and digital transformation. Zhe has authored two books and contributed to multiple book chapters and academic papers across various languages, demonstrating his interdisciplinary and global approach.
He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Peking University and completed both his Master’s and Ph.D. at Waseda University. Before joining IDE in 2011, he conducted research at Waseda University and Hokkaido University, further enriching his academic expertise and professional profile.