全球史与国际关系理论的再认识

Global History and Reflections on International Relations Theory

长期以来,世界历史和国际关系理论研究都深受西方中心主义的影响,其着眼点和思想材料大多聚焦或取自欧洲/西方的历史尤其是外交史。全球史是一种较新的研究取向和视角,具有宏阔视野、整体史观、多中心观和比较历史等特性,在学术倾向和精神上与全球国际关系学相通。既有国际关系理论主要由西方建构,有其可取之处,但也存在不可忽视的缺陷。对“硬科学”的过度偏好混淆了社会科学与自然科学的不同性质,产生了“科学主义”的谬误。我们对此应予以反思,而比较历史分析为这种纠偏提供了重要的可行路径。通过概括分析全球史这一学术取向的特征并阐明国际关系理论与全球史的潜在共通之处,有助于寻找国际关系元理论创新的生长点。比较历史分析作为一种研究方法和路径具有重要的价值,能够为理论创新提供新的可能性,使国际关系理论的发展呈现新的面貌。

For many years,studies in world history and international relations theory have been deeply influenced by Western-centrism,with a focus on Europe and thinking materials mostly drawn from European and Western history,including diplomatic history.Global history is a new research orientation and perspective,and its features include a broader perspective,a holistic view of history,a multi-centric viewpoint,and comparative history.It can communicate with Global International Relations(GIR)in spirit and orientation.The existing international relations theories that have been constructed in the West have both strengths and weaknesses.The excessive stress on and preference for"hard science"confuse the nature of social sciences with that of natural sciences and have led to the fallacy of"scientism".In this regard,we should have a sober reconsideration,and comparative historical analysis provides an important and feasible means to redress it.This article first enunciates the advantages of global history as an academic approach by summarizing its features,and then analyzes and criticizes the existing IR theories.Finally,it expounds that global history and IR theory are potentially interlinked,and explains why comparative historical analysis is significant as an approach.