论国际关系研究的知识属性——兼论西方国际关系研究的内在缺陷

The Knowledge Attributes of International Relations Research-Also on the Inherent Defects of Western International Relations Studies

现代国际关系研究经历百年发展历程之后,正面临着新的机会和选择,需对其基本属性进行重新定位和认识。国内政治与国际关系在本体论层面上的差异决定了政治学与国际关系研究在方法论意义上的根本性差异,国家这个分析单元的个体性而非一般性特征是国际关系研究必须关注的重点。对“科学化”的过分追求可能导致国际关系研究陷入体系性和实践性之间的矛盾,对国际关系研究而言,任何追求简单性、普遍性和体系性的方法可能都未必真正有效,能够切合国际关系实际的,也许是一种更注重复杂性、个体性和特殊性的方法。国际关系研究中找回特殊性应加强对历史研究的关注和对社会研究的借鉴,并注重对文化和价值问题的分析。国际关系的知识应该是一种同时面向个体性、可变性和可能性并高度关注文化和价值因素的知识,既包括传统意义上的科学面向,也需要有新的追求,即降低国家行为的不确定性并探讨国家行为的可能性。这种追求,应该能够为国际关系研究开掘更广阔且更具实效性的空间。

Facing new opportunities and choices,it is essential to reorient its roles and basic attributes of the research of modern international relations after a century of development.The ontological difference between domestic politics and international relations determines the fundamental difference in the methodology of politics and the research of international relations.Naturally,the unique characteristic of state rather than its universal characteristic constitutes the research focus of international relations.The excessive pursuit of"scientization"may result in international relations research being trapped in the contradiction between systematicity and practicability.In terms of international relations research,any approach pursing to simplicity,universality and systematicity may not be effective,while those focusing on the complexity,uniqueness and particularity may be approaches gearing to the actual circumstances of international relations research.To turning to the particularity of international relations research,it is required to focus on research of history,culture and values,and emphasize on social research findings as well.The knowledge of international relations should simultaneously orient uniqueness,variability and possibility and concern culture and value,which includes,not only science orientation in traditional sense,but also a new pursuit to reduce the uncertainty and to explore the possibility of state behavior.Such pursuit can open up a broader and more effective research space for international relations.