Integrating anthropology & IR studies facilitates the building of a global community of shared future. Photo: TUCHONG

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Anthropological research in China has evolved over decades, forming a distinctive academic path marked by profound depth and unique charm. On this path, researchers have not only delved deeply into the cultural traditions and social structures of the country’s diverse ethnic groups but have also conducted meticulous analyses of the commonalities and differences in human behaviors from an international perspective. This body of work has undoubtedly provided valuable academic support and contributions to the study of international relations. 

Interactions

In the 1940s, Chinese anthropologist Fei Xiaotong introduced the crucial concept of a “world society.” However, in the context of that era, the potential and inherent value of this idea were not fully explored or developed. When the academic community revisited this concept, they recognized it as a new understanding of the pattern of the relationship between the self and the other. Based on human “mobility, interactivity, and hybridity,” people form relationships in various fields such as politics, economics, culture, and religion, and thus develop civilizations characterized by cross-regional exchanges and sharing. We can see that at the national level, people’s lives are independent of each other, but at the social level, individuals are closely connected. This disparity, in which individuals’ social identities are shaped by mutual dependence, leads to complex interwoven relationships. 

On September 7, 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a speech at Nazarbayev University in Kazakhstan, proposing the vision for the joint development of the “Silk Road Economic Belt.” On October 3 of the same year, President Xi also delivered a speech at the Indonesian parliament, proposing the construction of the “21st Century Maritime Silk Road.” Together, these initiatives constitute the major undertaking known as the “Belt and Road Initiative” (BRI). After more than a decade of continuous consolidation, the number of countries participating in the initiative has continued to grow. From the perspective of implementation, both hard infrastructure development and soft cultural exchanges and multilateral cooperation mechanisms have been steadily advancing based on mutual cultural understanding among participating countries. The BRI not only fosters connectivity among the peoples of different countries but also provides embodied scenarios for interpersonal exchanges across regions. Given the growing global social consciousness of our times and China’s developmental needs, it is crucial to understand not only the changing domestic conditions in various regions but also the complexities and cultural diversity of the external world. 

At this point, anthropology’s fieldwork methods offer a pathway for the study of diverse interactions within international relations research. Clearly, as agents of action, the interpersonal interactions that connect individuals form the foundation of social order. Anthropologists obtain first-hand data through long-term fieldwork, documenting seemingly fragmented, incidental, and disordered information about their subjects. While this data may initially appear disorganized or even chaotic, through meticulous research and synthesis, it can reveal the social and cultural significance of specific regions and countries. Ethnography, serving as a bridge for communication among different human groups, not only dismantles communication barriers between cultural holders but also effectively addresses the challenges of miscommunication caused by cultural differences and language barriers in transnational interactions. 

Anthropological methodologies

In addressing cultural differences arising from crossing ethnic and national boundaries, Zhou Daming, a professor from the School of Sociology and Anthropology at Sun Yat-sen University, observed that without understanding the lifestyles and thought patterns of people from different cultures, it is impossible to achieve harmonious coexistence. He encourages anthropologists to conduct fieldwork abroad, emphasizing it as an important means by which to understand different cultures and foster empathy with people worldwide. International relations researchers can draw on the ethnographic research methods of anthropologists to conduct long-term fieldwork in host countries to understand cultures as they manifest on the spot. Such scholars must employ participant observation and conduct on-site observation and interviews to obtain first-hand data. This work involves validating critical information through multiple interviews across diverse participants, settings, and occasions. Moreover, researchers should strive for the “four simultaneities”—living, eating, working, and speaking the same language as the objects of their study. This sustained immersion helps uncover hidden social issues and phenomena.

In practice, researchers can focus on topics such as kinship and social relationships, social organizations, religious beliefs, identity construction, migration governance, livelihood patterns of immigrants, ethnic networks and adaptation strategies, cultural diversity, and the cultural aspects of food and education. These studies enable a nuanced understanding of the target county’s history, geography, culture, customs, and social dynamics. Researchers can also map specific routes to investigate issues like social governance, people’s livelihoods and public sentiment, and environmental improvement, presenting the regional cultures of different cities and populations through ethnographic reports and research reports. 

In addition, researchers can also focus on the channels, corridors, and roads that connected people through interaction. A detailed examination of these material conduits—created and sustained by human activity—provides a more concrete understanding of the reciprocal connections between individuals. The rapid development of modern transportation and communication technologies has undoubtedly become a powerful driver of globalization. In this context, anthropology’s concept of “roadology” takes on particular importance. It reexamines human “mobility,” “interactivity,” and “hybridity,” offering inspiration for research on the BRI. This shift moves the focus from a fixed-location, boundary-bound “place ethnography” to an exploration of “clue ethnography” along dynamic, interconnected lines. 

In anthropological fieldwork, tracing clues is an everyday process. Investigators immerse themselves in communities and groups, gathering, analyzing, and following leads through interaction, observation, and documentation. This work aims to uncover the deeper cultural, social, and behavioral dimensions of human life. While challenging and complex, it requires researchers to possess sharp insight and robust expertise to sift through vast amounts of information and identify valuable clues. These insights are then used to construct a more comprehensive and nuanced anthropological understanding. 

In practical terms, as anthropologists navigate a globally interconnected cultural space, their approach to tracing must adapt to these changing dynamics. The method of “clue ethnography” proposed by the author serves as a useful reference and source of inspiration. Its most significant contribution lies in reminding researchers not to fixate excessively on isolated points of information but instead to maintain a dynamic perspective across lines, planes, and regions. The “clue ethnography” method emphasizes eight key characteristics of line tracing in the fieldwork process: observability, understandability, traceability, relatability, inspirationality, graspability, containability, and changeability. As for international relations investigation and research, the proposal of this method not only allows us to understand a static country at a certain point, but also enables us to explore the differences of entire regions by following a line with connective meaning. 

Mutual reinforcement 

The BRI provides an excellent framework for expanding research by facilitating both horizontal expansion and vertical extension along dynamic interaction channels. Anthropology’s contribution to international relations research lies not only in offering research methods but also in opening up a new perspective on interpersonal relationships. If our understanding of interpersonal dynamics in international contexts has traditionally been rooted in the concept of nation-states, anthropology reveals that the interactions between different groups represent a fundamental form of social organization and cultural logic. These interactions transcend boundaries of nation, race, and gender, connecting instead to the inherent social nature of humans—namely, “the constraint of reciprocal exchanges based on social concepts.” From the unique and critical perspective of pathways and exchanges, we can reexamine the phenomenon of cross-regional reciprocity in human societies, gaining a clearer understanding of how intricate reciprocal relationships form during such exchanges and how they drive social development and progress. 

At the same time, it is necessary for us to deeply understand the occurrence and development of civilizational interactions on a broader scale from the perspective of reciprocity. Civilizations, as the intellectual essence and cultural heritage of human societies, advance history through their interactions and integration. From this perspective, we can see how different civilizations exchange and learn from one another, leading to the sharing of resources, the generation of new ideas, and the stimulation of innovation. This dynamic fosters the prosperity and development of individual civilizations and collectively enriches the tapestry of human culture. Understanding reciprocity in this way not only deepens our grasp of historical processes but also enhances our ability to navigate the present and shape the future.

Based on this approach, it is imperative to assemble interdisciplinary, inter-institutional, and international research teams comprising experts in anthropology, sociology, ethnology, regional studies, economics, politics, history, international relations, and other related disciplines. Only through such collaborative efforts can academic research better serve national strategic needs and contribute to building an open, inclusive, interconnected, and sustainable world. This academic foundation will play a vital role in promoting the building of a global community of shared future. 

Zhao Xudong is the director of the Institute of Anthropology at Renmin University of China (RUC). Liu Yating is a research fellow of the Institute of Anthropology at RUC.

Edited by ZHAO YUAN