从扩散到竞争:规范研究纲领的问题转换与理论进步

Form Diffusion to Competition:On Progressive Problem Shifts and Theoretical Development of Norm Research

规范研究作为建构主义构建的指涉经验世界的科学研究纲领,在不断解决纲领内部的“反常”过程中,经历了从研究规范扩散,到规范衰退,再到关注规范竞争的内部问题转换。在这一历程中,研究纲领的硬核被重新理解,规范不再被视为意义稳定的“事物”,而是被理解为处于不断变革的一种“进程”,规范硬核被重构为周期性“动态生成的事物”。在行为体对规范意义的持续竞争中,规范演进因而呈现扩散或衰退的双向发展可能。此外,随着研究问题从扩散转向竞争,学者们的分析层次下沉到单元,行为体之间的战略互动得到高度强调,“结果性逻辑”越来越被重视,成本—收益考量机制被吸纳进研究纲领。在这一问题转换过程中,单元的施动性逐渐得到充分体现,结构对行为体的单向建构被逆转,行为体建构体系层面的规范结构随之成为可能。概言之,规范研究的这一问题转换预测了规范演进方向的双向可能性、单元与结构的互构、行为体对理性选择机制的接纳这些新颖事实,并且在一定程度上得到经验验证,因此,规范研究纲领的问题转换呈现出进步特征。

Norm research makes a scientific research guideline,constructed per constructivism,to explain phenomena of the empirical world.In solving its inner anomaly,the shift of research questions from diffusion,to regression,and then to the competition is witnessed.In such a process,the‘hard core’of norm research is explained in a new way.Norm is no longer treated as a‘subject’with steady meaning,but a‘process’in constant change.In the continuous competition for the real meaning of the norm among different agents,either diffusion or regression could be the reasonable and natural direction in the evolution of norms.Furthermore,with research questions shifting from diffusion to competition and analysis level of researchers channeled down to the unit,the strategic interaction among agents is highly emphasized,the consequence-oriented logic re-emerges as a crucial explanatory variable,and the cost-benefit examination mechanism is incorporated into the research guideline.In such a process,the role of units is increasingly demonstrated,the one-way construction model of the structure onto agents is reversed,and it becomes possible for agents to build norm structures as a system.In a word,the shift of question in norm research foresees possibilities of dual directions for norm evolution,mutual construction between the structure and agents,and the agents’acceptance of rational selection mechanism,which,to some extent,are empirically examined to be progressive.