Introduction: Kawabata Yasunari in the twenty-first century

Abstract: This introduction argues that there is a need to engage in a fresh re-reading of Kawabata Yasunari. It proposes several possible approaches, including using Kawabata as a model for understanding processes of literary canonization, a rethinking of his reception around the globe during the Cold War period, and a historicization of his work in relation to the various censorship regimes that existed in twentieth-century Japan. It also provides brief summaries of the articles contained in this special issue.     

Conflict analysis for the twenty-first century

Approaches to conflict assessment remain stuck in the late 1990s. Methodological tools are overwhelmingly geared toward development actors. Significant policy evolution—driven by experiences in practice—over the last decade, along with progress in research on conflict and instability, powerfully suggests the need for analytical tools that are both truly joint—involving all relevant departments—and capable of embracing all major aspects of conflict causation and drivers of state fragility. Based on a review conducted for DFID and taking the UK as a case in point, this article outlines the key issues, challenges and requirements involved in operationalising genuinely joint analysis. There are positive signs that the UK government is serious about its commitment to integrated approaches in conflict-affected and fragile states, as demonstrated by development of the new Joint Analysis of Conflict and Stability (JACS). Crucially, this must be backed up by a shared understanding of the context that is theoretically informed, process savvy, empirically grounded and geared toward addressing the key issues identified in domestic and international policy.     

ASEAN in the twenty-first century: a sceptical review

Over the past few years, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has undertaken institutional reforms in the hope of rejuvenating itself for the twenty-first century. This paper utilizes the theory of subaltern realism (SR) to examine these initiatives. SR emphasizes that developing world states are weak and internally divided. As such, they formulate regional relations from the perspective of doing what is needed to further the state-building process. This paper assesses two of these reforms—the ASEAN Charter and the idea of the ASEAN Community idea—from the SR perspective and concludes that these measures are unlikely to have the desired rejuvenating effect. The ASEAN Charter envisions an ASEAN that is more intrusive than most of its members will tolerate. The ASEAN Community is not supported by a strong ASEAN identity. However, the regional environment of East Asia creates a political space wherein a unified and motivated ASEAN has the potential to exercise considerable influence. ASEAN member states are faced with the dilemma of determining how to balance their demands for sovereignty with the real advantages they will gain by supporting ASEAN. SR needs to be further developed before it can offer guidance in evaluating this situation.     

Dialogue among Civilizations: Implications for International Relations

The year 2001 was designated as the "United Nations (UN) Year of Dialogue among Civilizations", a major move based on the General Assembly resolution 53/22 of 1998, taken at the dawn of the new millennium. Persistent progress of such dialogue will bring a bout not only a rosy picture for human civilizations but also a bright future for international relations. This article intends to offer some views about ts significance in the latter respect. The citatlon of a wealth of basic material is meant for inviting more in-depth discussions.     

The Clash of Civilizations and Resolutions

The clash of civilizations is essentially the conflict among individuals from different civilizations. Individuals struggle for access to survival resources, and the scarcity of resources is the fundamental issue. When it becomes difficult to access resources alone, individuals tend to organize themselves in certain ways, and civilization could be one of these ways. However, the conflicts among different civilizations do not arise as easily as Huntington imagines, and the existence of buffer zones between civilizations is one of the factors that constrain conflict. Buffer zones appear with the emergence of civilization boundaries and are clearly visible in macro-and micro- cross-sections. The buffer zones are the concrete expression of knowledge shared by civilizations, and their formation is driven by many factors, such as economy and trade, cultural exchange, interracial neighborhoods, mixed marriages and so on.     

Clear and Present Strangers: The Clash of Civilizations and International Conflict

Huntington's (1993a, 1993b, 1996) clash of civilizations thesis suggests that states belonging to different civilizations are more likely to become involved in conflict with one another. To evaluate the empirical accuracy of Huntington's claims, we examined the relationship between civilization membership and interstate war between 1816 and 1992. We find that civilization membership was not significantly associated with the onset of interstate war during the Cold War era (1946–1988), which is consistent with one aspect of Huntington's thesis; however, we also find that for the pre–Cold War period (1816–1945) states of similar civilizations were more likely to fight each other than were those of different civilizations, which contradicts Huntington's thesis. Most importantly, our analysis reveals that during the post–Cold War era (1989–1992), the period in which Huntington contends that the clash of civilizations should be most apparent, civilization membership was not significantly associated with the probability of interstate war. All told, our findings challenge Huntington's claims and seriously undermine the policy recommendations that devolve from his clash of civilizations thesis.     

认知互动与文化偏见——试析西方文明与伊斯兰文明的社会互动

美国与伊斯兰世界相互间因历史和现实的情感体验,极易导致认知偏差的发生.而两者间不客观不全面地认知,夸大了两种文明的差异,而这种被夸大的差异转而再次影响双方对对方的认知与评价,如此周而复始,严重伤害了双方的民族和宗教文化感情,进而加深双方的裂痕,导致更为剧烈的冲突.     

China's New Silk Road: Linking Commerce,Cultures, Civilizations

正From their beginnings——in the glory days of the Han Dynasty in the East and the Roman Empire in the West—the linkages between our countries and even those of parts of Africa had ranged beyond the exchange of material goods.COMMERCE,CULTURE,CIVILIZATION From the beginning,East-West trade transcended the limits of commerce.From the beginning,it     

Approaching peace in Patani,Southern Thailand—some anthropological considerations

This article analyzes ways of approaching peace building and peace negotiations in Patani. Choosing an anthropological approach, the article argues that participant observation helps identify indigenous, local peace instruments. Hence, the design of local sovereignty is the most important step to durable peace in internal conflicts. The Surayud government has identified the recommendations of the National Reconciliation Commission as guide-posts and has praised the peace agreement in Aceh as model to emulate. There is an opening for peace talks, in which the solution to historical and cultural grievances will be a key to peace.     

增进文化沟通推动文明对话——中国-沙特阿拉伯王国学者论坛会议综述

2008年11月10～12日,由西北大学中东研究所和沙特阿拉伯沙特国王大学联合主办、西安外国语大学阿拉伯语系协办的中国-沙特阿拉伯王国学者论坛在西北大学举行.来自沙特国王大学、盖西姆大学的4位沙特学者和西北大学中东研究所、西安外国语大学、中国社会科学院西亚非洲研究所、中国社会科学院世界宗教研究所、上海国际问题研究院、上海外国语大学中东研究所、西北民族大学、兰州大学、郑州大学、国防大学等国内单位的代表共30余人与会.     

简析印第安文明中的思想因素及其研究的意义

无论是从道义角度还是从科学角度来看 ,拉丁美洲思想史无疑都应该以印第安文明为开端。这一文明中的思想内容既包含世界各地区早期文明共有的因素 ,更带有本地区的鲜明特点。印第安文化是仍然存活的文化 ,对于印第安文化的态度 ,不仅涉及正确评价历史 ,清除殖民主义文化偏见的影响 ,而且关系到现存印第安人的命运以及拉丁美洲文化建设的方向 ,乃至宏观的世界文化前景     

Diverse Cultures,One Aspiration:Seminar on Exchanges and Mutual Learning among Civilizations Held in Beijing

<正>The Seminar on Exchanges and Mutual Learning among Civilizations themed "Diverse Cultures, One Aspiration", organized by the Chinese Association for International Understanding and co-organized by the Chinese Artists Association, was held in Beijing on December 18, 2020.     

The Soldier, The State, and The Clash of Civilizations: The Legacy of Samuel Huntington

The major military challenge that the United States faces today is the war in Afghanistan. The U.S. military is engaged in a grueling counterinsurgency campaign against the Islamist movement known as the Taliban, which is based among Pashtun tribes in Southeastern Afghanistan and Northwestern Pakistan, who have never been permanently subdued by a foreign military force. This challenge comes in the wake of that other grueling counterinsurgency war that the U.S. military has had to conduct in Iraq, where its chief adversary was the Islamist movement known as al Qaeda in Mesopotamia. Moreover, the challenge in Afghanistan comes on what could be the eve of an impending military challenge, perhaps even a war, with Iran, as that Islamist state relentlessly moves toward acquiring nuclear weapons. In its entire history of two- and-a-quarter centuries, the United States has never been engaged in an unbroken succession of three wars, in three different countries. Together, the U.S. wars with or within Islamist countries add up to what is a “long war,” indeed.     

Promote Interaction and Mutual Learning between Civilizations of China and Rest of Asia

<正>As an important branch of the Asian civilization,the extensive and profound Chinese culture was created by the Chinese people over their thousands of years of history of hard work and struggle.Going through various historical and social changes,the Chinese culture has maintained its continuity,and it has been reflecting the essence of the spiritual pursuits of the Chinese people.As the unique symbol of the