开放式的自主发展:对英国国际关系理论的一项观察——思考中国国际关系理论的方向

Open and Independent Development:An Observation on International Relations Theories in the United Kingdom——Thoughts on the Direction of International Relations Theories in China

英国国际关系理论具有不同于美国国际关系理论的许多特点。国际关系理论的英国特性也许就是开放式的自主发展 ,充当国际关系知识的一间“世界工厂”。所谓开放 ,在其主要意义上是指 ,在与美国一起分享共性的“盎格鲁———美利坚知识传统”的同时 ,英国又把自己定位为欧洲国际关系理论共同体的重要组成部分。所谓自主发展 ,是指英国国际关系理论在上百年的发展中并不依附于作为一门“美国社会科学的国际关系理论”。国际社会学与国际政治经济学一直是英国国际关系理论的两个“名牌” ,在世界上独树一帜。许多英国学者更倾向于国际关系 (国际政治经济学 )批评理论。多元主义与学术民主色彩明显。不要求学者服从于某种整齐划一的占主导地位的“科学”理论 ,比美国同行更有可能。

British theories of international relations (IR) are different from those in the United States.British theories,characterized self-determined development,became an open'world factory of knowledge'about international relations.They are open in terms that they share the Anglo American tradition.At the same time,Great Britain positioned itself as an important part of European IR theory.They developed in a self determined fashion in that the development over the past 100 years was not against the backdrop of American social science.There are two strands in British IR theory:international sociology and international political economy.These are unique in the world.Many British scholars prefer to follow the'international relations critique,'which is a deconstruction of the orthodox IR theory.Compared to mainstream IR theory in the United States,which is characterized by rational choice and empiricism and state centralism,IR theory in Britain is characterized by pluralism and democracy.Scholars in Great Britain are never pushed to follow a unified theory.This means that scholars in Great Britain,compared to those in America, have more possibilities and are more qualified to respond to the many challenges and problems that have been emerging with globalization. Some theorists in Great Britain have been seeking to penetrate IR theory into broader research on society,politics,culture,anthropology,philosophy,and even literature.This kind of IR theory is gradually growing in opposition to the orthodox principles.It is worthy of the attention of Chinese colleagues in this field.