Internationalizing social sciences in China : the disciplinary development of sociology at Tsinghua University

Abstract

Social sciences are assuming growing significance against a backdrop of increasing problems within and between societies. While cultural diversity has permeated into all dimensions of our social life, the paradigms of social sciences have remained dominated by the West, failing to meet the new demands of non-Western societies. In an era of globalization, a more multi-polarized academic system is emerging, enabling non-Western societies to challenge the hegemony of Euro-American models in the social sciences. In China, modern social sciences are foreign transplants from the West. Dominated by Western academic models, they have been fragmented throughout the modern period, making how to integrate Chinese and Western patterns a fundamental issue in the development of social sciences. Taking Tsinghua University’s Sociology as a case, this thesis examines how internationalization shapes disciplinary development in a global context of asymmetrical academic relations, and set in China’s dramatic economic, social, political, and cultural transformations, together with the institutional reforms in the University. This thesis employs semi-structured interviews, participant observations, and document analyses as its major approaches to collect first-hand empirical data and policy texts at various levels, and reports its findings through the lens of Wallerstein’s three essential elements of disciplinary development: knowledge, organization, and culture. In line with the University’s growing ambition to attain world-class status, internationalization has triggered intellectual, institutional, and cultural developments in Sociology. Sociologists in the University emphasize both “local commitment” and “global significance” in the development of their academic career and discipline. While concentrating on social transformations and problems in China, they are also actively pursuing theoretical innovations to interact with international communities and are contributing to knowledge creation and distribution at local, national, and global levels. Nevertheless, the development of the University’s Sociology has met some organizational hurdles. Scholars have been frustrated by institutional and cultural dilemmas in their struggles to balance global and national/local demands. They have called these dilemmas “double shackles”. The first refers to their disadvantaged status in the asymmetrical international academic system. The second relates to the institutional, intellectual, and cultural milieus of China, characterized by structural barriers and political disturbances in the nation’s academic system. This thesis argues that internationalization is superficial if it fails to contribute to free inquiry, knowledge creation, and disciplinary development. There are two crucial aspects to achieving authentic internationalization. First, creating a healthy institutional, intellectual, and cultural milieu is much more meaningful than short-term academic achievements, as an over-emphasis on visible and quantifiable outcomes ultimately hinders long-term development. Second, adequate time and space need to be granted to academics so they can contribute to global scholarship, assume social commitments, and promote dialogues with international communities. This thesis stresses that internationalization is an evolving process whose advanced phase would require Chinese social scientists to bring China to the world. While a rising China offers opportunities to both Chinese and international social scientists, sociologists at Tsinghua are faced with both advantages and obligations. They are expected to contribute to both domestic social transformations and global scholarly development at the same time. It is time for the University to reassess the long-term impact of internationalization on its academic disciplines, and provide sufficient support for the development of social sciences.