退而回到帝国体系,还是进而走向全球善治?——俞可平教授谈全球化时代的帝国研究和全球秩序

Retreat to the Imperial System or Advance to Global Good Governance:Professor Yu Keping on Imperial Studies and Global Order in the Era of Globalization

帝国研究近年来不仅成为国家理论关注的热点,而且事实上成为历史学研究、政治学研究和国际关系研究共同关注的热点问题。对于全人类而言,只要进行历史的反思,就离不开对历史上那些帝国兴亡经验和教训的反思。帝国与国家、民族、大国、霸权等概念既存在联系,又有着本质区别。帝国既是一个由不同属国组成的国家权力体系,也是一个由若干国家组成的等级秩序体系,通常还是一个相对独立的国际秩序体系。帝国产生的根本动因就是夺取其他国家和其他民族的物质利益,这种行为常会被冠以“共同繁荣”、“地区安全”、“生存空间”等名义。从世界各国的政治历史看,国家产生后必然导致帝国的出现,而对外扩张征服是否有利可图与国内民主法治制度两个因素是避免一个国家从强国走向帝国的关键。对于帝国的兴衰而言,社会政治制度安排往往要比军事力量、科技水平和经济实力更为重要。帝国体系在世界历史上延续了数千年,已经形成了一种强大的惯性和难以割离的政治遗产,人类社会也总会存在对帝国梦想和帝国秩序的怀念。帝国主义虽然将长期存在,但帝国的历史命运已经终结。作为一个趋势的全球化进程不可逆转,因此倡导一种民主的、公正的、透明的、平等的和共赢的全球治理,才是解决全球紧迫问题、应对全球严峻挑战的关键所在。

The imperial studies,in recent years,has not only become a hot spot of state theory,but has in fact become a hot issue of common concern in the study of history,politics and international relations.For all humans,as long as there is historical reflection,it is inseparable from the reflection on experience and lessons of the rise and fall of those empires through history.The concept of empire is both related and fundamentally different from such concepts as country,nation,great power,and hegemony.An empire is not only a national power system composed of different dependent countries,but also a hierarchical system composed of several countries,and usually a relatively independent international system.The fundamental motive for the emergence of empires is to seize material interests of other countries and other peoples.This behaviour is often labelled as“common prosperity”,“regional security”and“living space”.According to the political history of various countries in the world,the emergence of a country will inevitably lead to the emergence of an empire.Whether foreign expansion and conquest are profitable and how are domestic democracy and the rule of law are two keys for a country to become an empire from a powerful country.For the rise and fall of an empire,social and political institutional arrangements are often more important than military power,technological capabilities and economic strength.The imperial system has lasted for thousands of years in the history of the world.It has formed a strong inertia and inseparable political heritages.Humans always have nostalgia for the dream of empire and imperial order.Nevertheless,although imperialism will exist for a long time,the historical destiny of an empire has come to an end.As a trend,the process of globalization is irreversible.Therefore,advocating a democratic,fair,transparent,equal and win-win global governance is the key to solving urgent global issues and addressing severe global challenges.