族群概念界定评析及其类型化认知初探

A preliminary study of the definition of the concept of ethnic groups and its typological cognition

族群概念的争议主要源自于原生主义和建构主义这两种族群理论的分歧,即它是共同文化和历史记忆等客观因素框定的现实存在,还是基于政治、社会因素作用下的主观建构。族群概念界定的特殊性不仅消解了两种理论都试图建立普适的族群概念之困境,而且为族群概念的类型化认知提供了可能。这种所谓的特殊性的研究视角拓展了族群概念的适用范围,也提高了概念自身及其运用的实践性。支配型、包围型、竞争型、选择型族际关系等是把族际关系作为一种界定标准,以不同类型的族际关系对族群概念进行类型化认知的有益尝试。

Disputes over the definition of the concept of ethnic groups have mainly derived from the divergence of two theories,primordialism and constructivism,the former argues that it is the actual existence determined by some objective factors like a common culture and historical memory,while the latter says it is a subjective construction under the influence of political and social factors. The particularity of defining ethnic groups not only helps solve the dilemma of a universal notion which the two theories attempt to establish,but also provides the possibility for a typological cognition of the concept of ethnic groups. This particularity-based research perspective expands the application scope of the concept of ethnic groups,and enhances its feasibility in application. Different ethnic relations like the dominant type,the enclosed type,the competitiveness type and the selective type regard such relations as a determining criterion,which is beneficial to the typological cognition of the concept of ethnic groups.