China Social Science Review

No.2, 2024

Construction of Region and Country-Specific Studies from the Perspective of New Think Tanks

(Abstract)

Wang Fei and Liu Xiaoyu

Region and country-specific studies and the construction of a new type of think tank with Chinese characteristics aresignificant components of philosophy and social sciences unique to China in the new era. Their synergistic development is underpinned by both the historical evolution of the autonomous knowledge system of region and country-specific studies and the establishment of new specialized think tanks. This synergy is further supported by a theoretical foundation oriented towards problem-solving within these fields, which has culminated in substantial practical exploration experience. The objective of constructing the discipline of region and country-specific studies is to adeptly manage the dialectical unity of three pairs of relationships: universality and particularity, theoretical and policy-oriented, and long-term and timely. By fostering high-quality think tanks dedicated to region and country-specific research, we aim to serve the construction of the discipline, leveraging the discipline’s development to empower the high-quality growth of these think tanks, thereby achieving mutual advancement of new region and country-specific research think tanks with Chinese characteristics and the field in general. This endeavor is an intrinsic requirement of the great practice of building a human community with a shared future and serves as an effective measure for providing Chinese programs for global region and country-specific research.