去中心化和(逆)全球化背景下中国人文地理学的批判性理论探索与方法创新

Critical Theoretical Engagements and Methodological Innovation for China’s Human Geography in a Decentering and (Anti) Globalizing World

文章以去中心化和(逆)全球化为背景评估中国的人文地理学研究现状与未来去向。笔者认为近年贸易保护主义和中美争端的不断升级会减缓但不会扭转知识全球化的长期趋势。中国人文地理学者不应该对进入世界舞台失去信心,而应该勇敢正视当前理论和研究创新的重要机遇和挑战。文章通过对比中国人文地理学科与西方同行的研究,发现两者有不少共同的历史和传统,包括研究命题、研究框架和解释方式。比较而言,中国人文地理学更加规范统一、富有组织和系统性,并积极支持国家发展议程;而西方人文地理学强调个人自由、多样性、天马行空("Blue-skyenquiry")以及独立于政府的批判性视角。文章指出三种不同的价值观作为供中国人文地理学者进行理论批判的重要视角。其他可能的理论探索方式包括将问题置于不同的时间和空间,使用不同的数据和方法进行多重验证,从基本假设出发来进行理论解构,批判性地辨析因果关系,以及在不同的尺度下重新检视研究问题等。中国人文地理应通过更好地理解三种不同的地理知识,建立有利于激励研究创新的评估体系,探索国际研究和跨学科研究的前沿领域,促进比较研究,以及融合利用不同风格的研究方法等策略来促进研究创新。文章结尾提出三种可能的(逆)全球化情景供中国人文地理学者思考如何迈向充满新挑战和新机遇的未来。

This paper situates Chinese human geography in the context of a decentering and globalizing world in which China has been firmly integrated. It is believed that the recent disturbing interventions of protectionism and Sino-American disputes have had the effect of slowing down but not reversing the long-term trend of intellectual globalization. Chinese human geographers should never be discouraged from entering the world stage and should instead take on the new challenges and opportunities for critical theoretical engagements and research innovation.A comparative assessment of Chinese human geography and its Western counterparts has identified common traditions and shared heritage in terms of subject matter, research frameworks, and routes of explanation. Whereas Chinese human geography is found to be more disciplined, organized, coherent, and supportive of state developmental agenda, human geography in the West is characterized by individual freedom, greater diversity,blue-sky enquiry, and a critical perspective free from any mandate that serves the interests of governments. Three ideological positions are identified for Chinese human geographers to use as important perspectives to engage in theoretical critique. Other possible ways of theoretical engagements include situating the problem in a different time and space, reassessment using different data and methods, challenging the basic assumptions upon which the theory is built, questioning cause-effect relationships, and(re) examining the issue on a different scale. Research innovation can be facilitated by a better understanding of three different kinds of geographic knowledge;establishing a research assessment system conducive and sufficiently stimulating;working at international research frontiers and interdisciplinary interfaces;promoting comparative studies;and utilizing research methods of different fashions. Three possible scenarios are envisioned for Chinese human geographers to venture into a future filled with new challenges and opportunities.