传播与“共同体想象”——托克维尔的传播思想探析

Communications and the Vision of Communities: Tocqueville's Ideas on Dissemination

本文从托克维尔对美国传播媒介的观察出发,探究托克维尔的传播思想。托克维尔的传播思想包含两个层面:一是分析传播怎样塑造了"社会";二是探究传播应该怎样塑造"社会"。不过托克维尔对传播塑造美国"社会"的分析,其实质是对"共同体化"的分析。在他的视野中,传播塑造了新的"共同体"。他也寄希望于传播构建"理想的共同体",维护他所珍视的自由。以此出发,托克维尔的传播思想和李普曼、杜威、凯瑞产生了直接的联系,并给传播学的研究留下了丰厚的思想遗产。

This paper begins with Tocqueville＇ s Analysis of the American media to explore his ideas on dissemination. Tocqueville＇ s dissemination theories focus on two dimensions： a） to analyze how dissemination shape communities; b） In what ways should dissemination shape communities. Tocqueville＇ s analysis on how dissemination has shaped communities in America is virtually analysis on communitization. For Tocqueville, dissemination creates new communities. Also he expects dissemination to construct ＂imagined communities＂ to protect freedom which he cherishes. In this way, Tocqueville＇ s ideas on dissemination have a direct association with Lippmann, Dewey and Carey＇ s theories, which leaves a rich legacy to communication studies.