美国国家构建过程中的科学公益

Scientific Philanthropy and Modern American State-building

[公益理论与公益实践·栏目导语]公益行为深深地嵌入社会的肌体之中,与一个社会内部的组织方式、运转逻辑和社会心理密切相关。有关公益的理论,也在实践过程中逐渐成形。中国公益在发展过程中,在组织形态、价值理念与工作方法等方面向西方(尤其是美国)借鉴良多。然而,美国的公益行动与公益理论,也是在美国自身的社会结构中产生的。本期"公益理论与公益实践"专栏,我们将探讨美国公益与美国社会的特殊关系何以形成。

Scientific philanthropy,with its emphasis on public welfare,scientific rationality,and organizational efficiency,achieved its most fully developed form in the United States.Its evolution drew on the forces of industrialization,professionalization and bureaucratization of the modern American society.The large philanthropic foundations acted as an important platform for nurturing and empowering the American Establishment,and played a critical role in the state-building both by substituting and strengthening the once insufficient functions of the Federal government.