观念改变世界——“世界价值观调查”研究评介

Values Change the World:a Review of WVS-Based Study

近30年来兴起的世界价值观调查正在将思辨层面的价值观纳入实证研究的范畴,并提出"观念改变世界"的观点,即人类价值观的改变对社会变迁具有重大影响。世界价值观调查从不同国家国民的基础价值观中提炼出代表性的文化特征,并绘制世界价值观地图,解释社会现实并推演未来发展趋势。本文在描述价值观转变规律和世界价值观地图的同时,评价了近30年来世界范围内价值观调查关于文化、宗教、全球化趋势和民主发展等方面的理论成果,以期通过对这些结论进行分析以获得社会发展规律及其研究方法上的启示。

Over the past 30 years, with the rising amount of World Values Surveys, the study of values has been changing from speculative level into the scope of empirical research, and the viewpoint ＂values change the world＂ the changes in human values have a significant impact on social change is put for- ward. World Values Surveys extract the representative cultural identity from those basic values of different countries, and draw a world map of values to explain some social realities as well as extrapolate their future trends. While describing the regular pattern of values change and the world values map, this paper evaluates worldwide values surveys on culture, religion, globalization and the development of democracy over the past 30 years. By analyzing their theoretical conclusions, we hope to find the law of social development and the inspi- ration on research methods.