后现代主义与美国外交史研究

Postmodernism and the Studies of Diplomatic History of U.S.

在后现代思潮中,对美国外交史学产生重要影响的主要是解构主义和后殖民主义。从解构主义层面看,学者们运用"话语分析"方法,关注"认同政治"主题,深化了对美国外交之国内文化因素的研究。在后殖民理论层面,萨义德的"东方主义"理论和印度学者提出的"庶民研究"方法的运用,刷新了关于美国帝国主义问题的研究。后现代理论在美国外交史研究中的运用有着学术上的积极意义,但少数后现代论者关于美国外交史学本体论和认识论的激进主张,也引发人们对它的质疑和批评。事实证明,这些激进论者没有领会并贯彻后现代主义平等、宽容的人文主义精神实质。

In the process of cultural turn,postmodernism was introduced by historians into the study of American diplomatic history,which produced more and more theoretical works.Among the various analytically innovative strategies developed by postmodern theorists,deconstructionism and postcolonialism were most used by American diplomatic historians.From the perspective of deconstructionism,scholars adopted ' discourse analysis' approach,focusing on:identity politics theme to deepen the research about the domestically cultural circumstances of American diplomacy.From the perspective of postco]onialism,Edward W.Said's Orientalism and Indian scholars' Subaltern Studies refreshed the studies on American imperialism.The introduction of postmodernism theoretical concepts positively contributed much to the study of American diplomatic history,but a few postmodernists' radical ideas about ontology and epistemology caused antipathy and criticism.To some extent these radicalists haven't understood and implemented the humanism principle of equality and tolerance.It's destining for postmodernism to be dissolved and enriched by mainstream of historiography.