人文交流与新时代中国对外关系发展——兼与文化外交的比较分析

Cultural Exchanges and the Development of China’s Foreign Relations in the New Era:A Comparative Study with Cultural Diplomacy

当代中国的对外人文交流已经成为文化和政治领域的一个较为突出的现象。本文尝试对人文交流的内涵和外延、在国际关系中的意义进行初步梳理和探讨。文化外交与人文交流的关系较为密切,且易于混淆,然而通过对比分析可以看出,文化外交属于政治进程,而人文交流属于社会进程,其参与者可以遍及社会各个层面,大体可分为知识界和大众两个群体。文化外交是服务于一国对外政策的单向活动,而人文交流是目标长远的双向进程。人文交流有自身的独立属性,唯有把它看作长期的、综合性的社会进程,方能把握其在国际关系中的意义。从长远来看,人文交流通过致密而复杂的社会交往网络,有助于促进国民间的了解,减少国家间的错误知觉,为国家间关系托底,成为国家间良性互动的象征和助力,增加促进国家间关系积极发展的权威性声音,塑造国家的人文形象。

China’s cultural exchanges with foreign countries have become an important phenomena.This paper is a preliminary attempt in establishing the definition and content of cultural exchanges,and discussing the impact of cultural exchanges on international relations.As cultural diplomacy and cultural exchanges are closely related concepts,the definition and characteristics of cultural exchanges will be discussed in comparison with cultural diplomacy.Generally speaking,while cultural diplomacy are one-way political processes,cultural exchanges are two-way social processes with long-term goals.People from all walks of life can participate in cultural exchanges,where they fall roughly into two categories,the intelligentsia and the public.Cultural exchanges make a significant impact on international relations through complex social interaction networks.In the long run,cultural exchanges can help improve mutual understanding among the peoples,reduce misperceptions,build a strong base for state-to-state relations,demonstrate and accelerate positive interactions among states,and project a state’s cultural image internationally.