农民工城镇化研究:方法论反思与理路澄清

Migrant Workers’ Urbanization:Reflection on Methodology and Clarification of Framework

目前农民工城镇化研究领域的研究中,因为对研究中的方法论问题缺乏足够的思考,导致研究中出现了经验研究与理论探讨相脱节的现象,影响了研究积累和质量提升。在对农民工城镇化研究需要解释的现实问题和西方移民研究所解释的现实问题进行比较分析的理路澄清中,本文概括出了两者之间的三个相似点和三个不同点。这三个相似点分别是迁移的动因、移民的文化属性对其流入目的地的影响作用、基于流入地利益而非社会公正的制度结构安排。不同点则是土地制度、户籍制度和中西文化差异。基于这些相似点和不同点的整体性理解上的差异,可以归纳出后续研究在两种截然不同方法论立场下的不同发展方向。相信这一问题的明确,不仅对于这一领域的理论提升,而且对于这一领域的政策设计,都具有十分重要的意义。

There is a wide gap between empirical study and theoretical discussion on current researches of migrant workers’ urbanization due to lack of attention to relevant methodological issues,which hinders both their quantitative accumulation and qualitative improvement.Based on a specific clarification of the study of practical problems that call for explanation in research of Chinese migrant workers’ urbanization and in the study of western immigration theories,we conclude three similarities and three differences between them.The former include motives for migration,cultural characteristics that affect the destination preference of migration,and a similar institutional arrangement focused on the benefits to flow-in areas instead of social justice.The latter include land system,the household registration system and differences between Chinese culture and Western culture.We suggest different directions based on the overall understanding of these similarities and differences under the guidance of varied methodological viewpoints.We expect this clarification to bring about theoretical improvement and enhance policy design in this field.