认同政治与国家的衰落——兼评亨廷顿的新作《我们是谁?》

The Identity Crises and the Decline of National Power——A Review on Samuel P. Huntington’s Who Are We?

冷战时期不同意识形态的冲突湮灭后,人类出现了全球范围的认同危机。美国也难逃此劫。性别、民族、种族等群体认同,分权主义者对州权的认同,知识界与政界的精英们对全球化与超国家的向往都危及到美国人的国家认同。认同政治的兴起对美国国家认同的关键部分———文化与政治信条构成了挑战。这不仅是国家权力衰落的体现,也说明正式制度与非正式制度的契合对一国的发展至关重要。各国如何因应具体国情在制度设计上接受“认同政治”的挑战,培育出理性的、参与的、团结的公民,这在一定意义上将会决定这个国家的未来。

The 1990s witnessed debates over national identity after the end of the Cold War. Sub-national cultural and regional identities and transnational identities are now taking precedence over national identities. Crises of national identity have become a global phenomenon. “We Americans” face a problem of national identity as well. The Anglo-Protestant culture and the “American Creed” face challenges from a new wave of immigrants from Latin America and Asia. The identity crises signify the decline of national power and the gap between culture and institutions. Americans in the 21st century face three choices: cosmopolitanism, imperialism, or nationalism. The choices the Americans make will shape their future as a nation as well as the future of the world.