中美民族高等教育的比较和借鉴

Ethnicity and Higher Education in China and the United States:Comparisons and Lessons

美国是当今世界上唯一的超级大国和科教强国,也是一个多民族、多种族的国家。从19世纪60年代南北内战以来,美利坚再也没有因为民族问题发生内战或国家分裂的情势。美国成长和崛起的历史表明,美国对少数族裔高等教育的优惠政策及其国家认同战略,是其中重要的原因之一。我国也是多民族国家,自古以来就有"多元一体"的大一统文化格局。但是,我国少数民族地区由于位于老少边穷地区,出现了一些不稳定因素。其中民族高等教育的落后乃其重要原因之一。比较借鉴美国的民族高等教育经验,对建设和谐的民族关系和国家的长治久安,有其现实意义。

America is the world＇s sole superpower as well as a world leader in science and education. It is also a multi-ethnic society. Since the Civil War in the 1860s, America has no longer experienced civil war or national disunity due to ethnic divisions. The history of America＇s growth and rise suggests that its strategies for cultivating national identity as well as its programs encouraging the higher education for ethnic minorities are one of the important reasons for the absence of ethnic conflict. China is also a multi-ethnic society. Since ancient times, China has had a cultural concept of unity based on ＂pluralism within unity. ＂ However, due to the fact that many of China＇s ethnic minority areas are remote and povertystricken, some destabilizing factors have emerged. The backward state of higher education in ethnic minority areas is one of these factors. Comparing and learning from the America＇s ethnic-minority higher education policies and their contribution to building a harmonious society and stable nation should be an important and timely undertaking.