On May 5, High-End Social and Cultural Lecture Series, jointly organized by Shanghai Academy and the Humanities & Social Sciences Office of Shanghai University, was officially launched. Themed “theoretical basis of institutional innovation”, the first lecture was given by Research fellow Peng Heping, former assistant to the President of Renmin University of China (RUC) and Secretary-General of RUC Alumni Association and RUC Education Foundation. Zhu Cheng, Director of the Cooperation Division of Shanghai Academy and professor of Shanghai University, presided over the lecture. Other attendees included Yu Yang, Party Secretary of the Social Sciences Department of Shanghai University, Tao Qian, Vice Director of the Social Sciences Department of Shanghai University, and members of the Party and administrative group, as well as some graduate students and undergraduates of Shanghai University.

Peng has published Introduction to Institutional Science, Public Administration (5th Edition), Municipal Administration and other works, establishing a school of his own in the research field of institutional science. He pointed out that institutional science research is an independent research area and introduced the basic theoretical framework of institutional science, including the definition, formulation & implementation, development and role of institutions, as well as the institutional people, institutional effectiveness, cultural factors, social relations, institutional relationship and institutional field management. He holds that the institution arises from regulation and realizes its value via implementation and is reflected as the institution field. Institutions are a result of adjusting and defining social relations. An institutional field is formed by the resultant influences of regulators, implementers and interacting elements. It plays a role in regulating the social power structure, training institutional people, shaping institutional effectiveness and enhancing the operating effect of the society. He holds that the concept of the institutional field and its application is an important aspect of institutional innovation. By introducing the physical term of “field” into institutional science, we can better explain the interaction of all roles in various institutional relations with the institution as the core. He believes people will encounter various practical problems in social life. To solve these problems fundamentally, it is best to approach from the perspective of institutional effectiveness comparison and institutional choice.

In the report, Peng made an in-depth interpretative analysis of many theoretical and practical issues concerning human nature, organizations, international relations from the perspective of institutions. After the report, Peng had a lively discussion with teachers and students from the Social Sciences Department of Shanghai University.

In support of Shanghai Academy’s mission to build a high-end national think tank and strengthen the all-around cooperation between Shanghai Academy and Shanghai University, the Humanities and Social Sciences High-End Lecture is a series activity, jointly established by Shanghai Academy and the Humanities & Social Sciences Office of Shanghai University in 2017. As an academic platform for humanities and social sciences, the lecture series will be committed to promoting the construction of philosophy and social science with Chinese characteristics and pooling the wisdom of prominent social science experts at home and abroad. Focusing on cutting-edge theoretical and academic problems, and adhering to the highest academic standard and the broadest academic vision, the activity will be built into an advanced academic forum benefiting teachers and students of colleges and universities, as well as the public.

(By Zhu Cheng)