Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

To ‘Fall in Line’ or To ‘Grab’: Thoughts on the Indigenization of Political Science

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Political Science and Chinese Political Studies

  • 1118 Accesses

Abstract

Our current era is that of the “-ization.” Terms such as “modernization,” “privatization,” “liberalization,” “democratization,” and “globalization” are in fashion. Of course, what needs “-ization” is not the “modernized,” “privatized,” “liberalized,” and “democratized” West but rather the “third world” and post-soviet states. We are told that these country’s struggles for modernization are inherently fixated to the glorious path of privatization, liberalization, and democratization. If any nation takes a different path, then it becomes imperative that they abandon such an erroneous developmental scheme and fall into line, adjusting themselves to the standards of the West. Globalization has come to stand for nothing more than the process in which the nations of the world conform toward Western political standards.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. 1.

    Translator’s note: a distinction is drawn here between the Chinese translation, 政治学, “the study of politics” and the English translation, 政治科学 “the science of politics”.

  2. 2.

    Translator’s note: here, Wang is speaking of Jingshi Fazhi Da Xue (京师法政大学), “Capital University of Law and Government.”

  3. 3.

    For more on Hirschman, see his autobiography: A Propensity to Self-Subversion, Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1995.

  4. 4.

    Many Political Science Departments in the United States consider this book necessary for understanding the Mexican revolution. Unfortunately, they tend to overlook the methodology it employs.

  5. 5.

    Translators note: Taolu (套路)is a series of tricks used in Wushu, Chinese martial arts. Wushu, however, does not always refer to martial arts and can instead refer to trickery or deception.

  6. 6.

    Actually, there are still people who continue to use the Cold War label “totalitarian.” However, very few academics seriously still use this word.

  7. 7.

    What is more, Edward Friedman asserts that China in its modernizing process will be split apart into northern and southern sections. Interested readers should look at his article and arguments while keeping an eye out for problems. See if he uses academic “packaging” to deliver his subjective opinions: Edward Friedman “Reconstructing China’s National Identity: A Southern Alternative to Mao- Era Anti- Imperialist Nationalism.” Journal of Asian Studies53.1 (1994): 67–91.

  8. 8.

    Jie Chen, Yang Zhong, Jan Hillard, “Assessing Political Support in China: Citizens’ Evaluations of Governmental Effectiveness and Legitimacy,” Journal of Contemporary China, Vol. 6, No. 16 (November 1997), pp. 551–566; Chen Jie, Zhong Yang, and Jan W. Hillard, “The Level and Sources of Popular Support for China’s Current Political Regime,” Communist and Post-Communist Studies30.1 (1997): 45–64. For more Chinese sources on this subject with outcomes similar to Shi Tianjian, see: Wei Yunhan & Zhang Youzong, “Democracy in Chinese Society and the Cultural Origin of the Authoritarian System: Comparative Politics in Mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong,” see Liu Zhaojia, ed., The Transformation of Chinese Society: an Analysis of Societal Indicators(Chinese University of Hong Kong, Center for Asia-Pacific Studies, 1998), 257–285.

  9. 9.

    US journalist Robert D. Kaplan has made significant contributions on this topic. See “Was Democracy Just a Moment?” The Atlantic Monthly280.6 (December 1997): 55–80. Several of his essays have been included in: Robert Kaplan, The Coming Anarchy: Shattering the Dream of the Post-Cold War. New York: Random House, 2000. This book has received a large amount of attention in the media, but the academic world has not answered the questions it poses.

  10. 10.

    Robert H. Bates, “Area Studies and the discipline: A Useful Controversy?” Political Science & Politics30.2 (June 1997) 166–169. Also see: Robert H. Bates, Analytic Narratives. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1998.

  11. 11.

    Translator’s Note: “yellow earth”(黄土地) is a metaphor refering to Chinese culture and “culture of the blue sea” (蓝色的海洋文化) refers to western culture.

  12. 12.

    Translator’s Note: Chinese idiom (七情六欲)that refers to various emotions and desires (seven emotions: happiness, angers, sadness, fear, love, hate, desire; six desires: desire of life, death, ears, eyes, mouth, nose).

  13. 13.

    Translators Note: Chinese idiom meaning “by total chance” (瞎猫撞到了死耗子).

  14. 14.

    See: Susan J. Carroll & Linda G. Zerilli, “Feminist Challenges to Political Science.” Political Science: The State of the Discipline II. Ed. Ada W. Finifter. Washington DC: American Political Science Association, 1993. 55–76. Also see: Charles Taylor, Multiculturalism and the Politics of Recognition. Ed. Amy Gutmann. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1992.

  15. 15.

    Zheng He (1371–1433) was an admiral for the imperial court during the Ming dynasty. In making his expeditions around the world he became known for attaining his goals through diplomacy, despite his huge fleet.

  16. 16.

    Immanuel Wallerstein, “The Unintended Consequences of the Cold War Area Studies.” The Cold War & The University.Ed. Schiffrin. (n.p.) (n.d.) 195–231.

  17. 17.

    Translator’s note; Chinese idiom: Gong Yu Shan Qi Shi, Bi Xian Li Qi Qi (工欲善其事,必先利其器).

  18. 18.

    Translator’s note: Chinese idiom: Ben Mo Dao Zhi(本末倒置).

  19. 19.

    Edward Said, Orientalism, p. 416. 323–324.

  20. 20.

    For more on Subaltern Studies, see Chakrabarty and Gyan Prakash, “Writing Post-Colonialist Histories of the Third World: Perspectives from Indian Historiography.” Comparative Studies in Society and History32 (1990): 383  ∼  408. Also see Gayatri Spivak, “Can the Subaltern Speak?” The Post-Colonial Reader. Ed. B.G. Ashcroft Griffiths & H. Tiffin. New York: Routledge, 1995.

References

  • Almond GA (1977) Clouds, clocks, and the study of politics. World Polit 29(4):489–522

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Almond GS, Roselle L (1989) Model fitting in communism studies. In: Remington T (ed) Politics and the Soviet system. St. Martin’s Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Almond G, Verba S (1963) The civic culture: political attitudes and democracy in five nations. Little, Brown, Boston

    Google Scholar 

  • Bates RH (1997) Area studies and the discipline: a useful controversy? Political Sci Polit 30(2):166–169

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bates RH (1998) Analytic narratives. Princeton University Press, Princeton

    Google Scholar 

  • Campbell A (1980) The American voter. University of Chicago Press, Chicago

    Google Scholar 

  • Cao R (1997) A probe into the categories of political science. In: Zheng N, Luo J (eds) New theorems of political science: western studies and the Chinese experience. Chinese University, Hong Kong

    Google Scholar 

  • Carroll SJ (1989) The personal is political: the intersection of private lives and public roles among women and men in elective and appointive office. Women Politics 9:51–67

    Google Scholar 

  • Carroll SJ, Zerilli LG (1993) Feminist challenges to political science. In: Finifter AW (ed) Political science: the state of the discipline II. American Political Science Association, Washington, DC, pp 55–76

    Google Scholar 

  • Prakash G (1990) Writing post-colonialist histories of the third world: perspectives from Indian historiography. Comp Stud Soc Hist 32:383–408

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen J (2004) Popular political support in urban China. Woodrow Wilson Center Press, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen J, Yang Z, Hillard JW (1997a) The level and sources of popular support for China’s current political regime. Communist Post-Communist Stud 30(1):45–64

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen J, Yang Z, Hillard J (1997b) Assessing political support in China: citizens’ evaluations of governmental effectiveness and legitimacy. J Contemp China 6(16):551–566

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chow GC (1997) Challenges of China’s economic system for economic theory. Am Econ Rev 87(2):321–327

    Google Scholar 

  • Dahl R (1961) Who governs? Yale University Press, New Haven

    Google Scholar 

  • Dahl RA (1971) Polyarchy: participation and opposition. Yale University Press, New Haven

    Google Scholar 

  • Eckstein H (1975) A critique of area studies from a West European perspective. In: Pye LW (ed) Political science and area studies: rivals or partners. Indiana University Press, Bloomington, p 203

    Google Scholar 

  • Fellmeth AX (1996) Social capital in the United States and Taiwan: trust or rule of law. Dev Policy Rev 14(2):151–171

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fenton WN (1946) Integration of geography and anthropology in army area study curricula. Am Assoc Univ Prof Bull 32:706

    Google Scholar 

  • Fewsmith J (2007) Assessing social stability on the eve of the 17th party congress. China Leadersh Monit 20:1–24

    Google Scholar 

  • Friedman E (1994) Reconstructing China’s National Identity: A Southern Alternative to Mao- Era Anti-Imperialist Nationalism. J Asian Stud 53(1):67–91

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gilley B (2008) Legitimacy and institutional change: the case of China. Comp Political Stud 41(3):259–284

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gilley B (2009) The right to rule: how states win and lose legitimacy. Columbia University Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Gramsci A (1971) Selections from the prison notebooks (trans: Hoare Q, Smith GN). Lawrence and Wishart, London, p 324

    Google Scholar 

  • Green DP, Shapiro I (1994) Pathologies of rational choice theory: a critique of applications in political science. Yale University Press, New Haven

    Google Scholar 

  • Greenstein F (1970) Children and politics. Yale University Press, New Haven

    Google Scholar 

  • Harding H (1984) The study of Chinese politics: toward a third generation of scholarship. World Polit 36:284–307

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hirschman A (1970) The search for paradigms as a hindrance to understanding. World Polit 22(3):329–343

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holbig H, Gilley B (2010) Reclaiming legitimacy in China. Politics & policy, 38(3):395–422

    Google Scholar 

  • Howoritz IL (ed) (1967) The rise and fall of project Camelot. MIT Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Huntington SP (1996) The west: unique, not universal. Foreign Aff 75(6):28–46

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Inglehart R (1997) Modernization and postmodernization: cultural, economic, and political change in 43 societies. Princeton University Press, Princeton, p 173

    Google Scholar 

  • Inglehart R (1999) Trust, well-being, and democracy. In: Warren ME (ed) Democracy and trust. Cambridge University Press, New York, p 91

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson C (1997) Preconception vs. observation: on the contributions of rational choice theory and area studies to contemporary political science. Political Sci Polit 30(2):170–174

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaplan RD (1997) Was Democracy Just a Moment?” Atlantic Monthly 280.6, December, pp 55–80

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaplan R (2000) The coming anarchy: shattering the dream of the post-cold war. Random House, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Katznelson I (1997) The subtle politics of developing emergency: political science as liberal guardianship. In: Schiffrin A (ed) The cold war & the university: toward an intellectual history of the post-war years. The New Press, New York, pp 233–258

    Google Scholar 

  • Lane R (1959) Political life: why people get involved in politics. The Free Press, Glencoe

    Google Scholar 

  • Li L (2004) Political trust in rural China. Mod China 30(2):228–258

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lowi T (1992) The state in political science: how we become what we study. Am Political Sci Rev 86(1):1–7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Manabe K (1995) People’s attitudes toward technology and environment in China. Kwansei Gakuin University Annual Studies 73:25–50

    Google Scholar 

  • Marx K (1852) The 18th Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte. http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1852/18th-brumaire/ch07.htm

  • McCloskey DN (1985) The rhetoric of economics. University of Wisconsin Press, Madison

    Google Scholar 

  • Olson M (1965) The logic of collective action: public goods and the theory of groups. Harvard University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Payne JL (1968) Patterns of conflict in Colombia. Yale University Press, New Haven

    Google Scholar 

  • Perry EJ (1994) Trends in the study of Chinese politics: state-society relations. China Q 139:704–713

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perry E (1999) Partners at fifty: American China studies and the PRC. In Trends in China Watching: Observing the PRC at 50 (Washington, D.C.: The Sigur Center for Asian Studies, George Washington University, 1999), pp. 13–19

    Google Scholar 

  • Pye L (1990) China: erratic state, frustrated society. Foreign Aff 69(4):56–74

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Said E (1979) Orientalism. Vintage, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Scheer R (1965) How the United States got involved in Vietnam. Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions, Santa Barabarapp, pp 33–38

    Google Scholar 

  • Schumpeter JA (1952) Capitalism, socialism, and democracy. Harper & Bros, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Shi T (2001) Cultural values and political trust: a comparison of the people’s republic of China and Taiwan. Comp Polit 33(4):401–419

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shi T (2008) China: democratic values supporting an authoritarian system. In: Chu Y-H, Diamond L, Nathan AJ, Shin DC (eds) How East Asian view democracy. Columbia University Press, New York, pp 209–237

    Google Scholar 

  • Somit A, Tananhaus J (1982) The development of American political science. Irving Publishers, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Spivak G (1995) Can the subaltern speak? In: Bill Ashcroft, Gareth griffiths and Helen Tiffin, The post-colonial studies reader. Routledge, New York. pp. 24–28

    Google Scholar 

  • Tang W (2001) Political and social trends in the post-deng urban China: crisis or stability? China Q 168:890–909

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tang W (2005) Public opinion and political change in China. Stanford University Press, Stanford

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor C (1992) In: Gutmann A (ed) Multiculturalism and the politics of recognition. Princeton University Press, Princeton

    Google Scholar 

  • Torpey J (2000) The invention of the passport: surveillance, citizenship, and the state. Cambridge University Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Truman DB (1971) The governmental process: political interests and public opinion, 2nd edn. Alfred A Knopf, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Tsou T (1969) Western concepts and China’s historical experience. World Polit 21:655–691

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Uslaner EM (2002) The moral foundations of trust. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Wallerstein I (1996) Open the social sciences: report of the Gulbenkian Commission on the Restructuring of the Social Sciences. Stanford University Press, Stanford, p 89

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang S (2000) The basis of trust: an explanation of political society. Chinese University Political Science and Public Administration Department, Hong Kong, (unpublished essay)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang Z (2005) Political trust in China: forms and causes. In: White L (ed) Legitimacy: ambiguities of political success of failure in East and Southeast Asia. World Scientific, Singapore

    Google Scholar 

  • Wei Y, Zhang Y (1998) Democracy in Chinese society and the cultural origin of the authoritarian system: comparative politics in Mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. In: Lau S (ed) The transformation of Chinese society: an analysis of societal indicators.Hong Kong Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, pp 257–285

    Google Scholar 

  • Womack J (1968) Zapata and the Mexican revolution. Knopf, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Zheng S (1999) The state and difficulties of international relations in China (中国国家关系研究的现况和困境), http://www.irchina.org/xueke/inchina/gaikuang/view.asp?id=9

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Government and Public Administration, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

    Shaoguang Wang

Authors
  1. Shaoguang Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shaoguang Wang .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Department of Political Science, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Ave. HSS 263, San Francisco, 94132, California, USA

    Sujian Guo

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Wang, S. (2013). To ‘Fall in Line’ or To ‘Grab’: Thoughts on the Indigenization of Political Science. In: Guo, S. (eds) Political Science and Chinese Political Studies. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-29590-4_14

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation