On February 23, Shanghai Academy held an expert meeting in preparation for the “Construction of the Sociology Discourse System·Pudong Forum”. A dozen experts and scholars from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), Fudan University, Nanjing University, Zhejiang University, Jilin University, Shanghai University, East China Normal University and East China University of Science and Technology gathered at the meeting and had heated discussions about establishment of the sociology discourse system with Chinese characteristics and subject construction, making plans and preparation for the launch of the upcoming forum. Wen Xueguo, Executive Vice President of Shanghai Academy, chaired the meeting, and Li Youmei, the 1st Deputy President of Shanghai Academy, attended and addressed the meeting.
Wen Xueguo briefed the background for the meeting, and conveyed the requirements of Yan Shuang, Deputy Head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee and Secretary of the Party Group of Shanghai Federation of Social Science Associations for the forum: first, sociological experts and scholars shall be invited to discuss the themes and contents of the forum; second, preparation shall be made for the publication of the declaration for the sociology discourse system. He said the forum will not only help construction of the discourse system of the Chinese academic style, but also promote academic research and development of Sociology as a subject to some extent.
At the meeting, all the experts aired their views to contribute ideas to the launch of the forum and the construction of the sociology discourse system. As for the starting point for the construction of the discourse system, Professor Gu Jun from Shanghai University said, they shall first determine whether the discussion is to be held at a level of subject construction or a level of concrete theories, concepts or scopes. Professor Cheng Boqing from Nanjing University said, construction of the discourse system shall be combined with culture and discussed as a national strategy. As for the contents of the construction of the discourse system, Tian Feng, associate researcher with CASS, mentioned three key terms; Chinese experience, social networking, and poll. Lv Peng, associated researcher from CASS, proposed to establish the discourse system from the perspective of customer demand. As for the ways to construct the sociology discourse system, Professor Wen Jun from East China Normal University mentioned two aspects: first, the problems about the subject shall be identified and analyzed during the discussion about the sociology discourse system, so as to promote dialogues with the west; second, the discourse system shall be established based on China’s ideological system, experience and stance. Zang Deshun, associate researcher of the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, proposed that publicity of the sociology discourse system shall be integrated with new media and WeChat. Professor Mao Dan from Zhejiang University also expressed his ideas about how to construct the sociology discourse system.
In the summary speech, Li Youmei thanked all the attending experts and scholars for their constructive ideas and opinions. She said, under the complex background, China may see many new problems arising from its social transformation, such as those related to social structure, social orders and social consensus. Then, how to reach a new consensus? What is the future path for Sociology? Solving the problems will be a long process, in which sociologists shall exchange ideas more frequently for more sparks of thought.
Attendees also included Professor Ren Yuan from Fudan University, Professor Tian Yipeng from Jilin University, Professor He Xuesong from East China University of Science and Technology, Huang Xiaochun and Sun Xiulin, both associate professors from Shanghai University, and Associate Professor Liu Yonghua from East China Normal University.
By Xiang Jinmei and Dong Weijia
