南京大学-约翰斯·霍普金斯大学中美文化研究中心教授、南京大学亚太发展研究中心主任石斌在《中外交流研究》2025年第4期发表《略论区域国别研究的方法论问题》一文，作为该期的首篇文章。
区域国别研究是一个以空间范围而非核心问题来界定的、内容极为广泛的跨学科研究领域。 与其学术发展和学科建设有关的广义方法论问题不仅至关重要，也极其复杂。该领域的复杂性在于，其研究对象（特定国家或区域）具有多维性、多样性、动态性和文化特殊性，同时也面临全球化背景下学科交叉与理论融合的挑战。
文章探讨了科学实证主义与传统人文主义这两种主要研究取向各自的独特价值及其时代挑战，并就中国区域国别研究自主知识体系构建的实践路径提出了一些初步思考。
作者认为，中国的区域国别研究必须首先厘清科学探究与人文关切、学科与跨学科、国别区域与全球，以及文化价值观的特殊性与普遍性这几组最基本的关系；而中国的自主知识体系建设，则必须正确处理“中国化”与“世界性”、经验知识与理论知识、学术性与实践性以及多元与一体的关系。
作者强调，中国的区域国别研究必须回应时代需求，兼顾科学与人文、中国价值与人类共同价值，为中国自身的发展以及全球治理体系变革和人类命运共同体构建，提供独特的中国式探索和崭新的区域知识体系。
Methodology of Area and Country Studies
Abstract: Area and Country Studies constitutes an exceptionally broad interdisciplinary field defined by spatial scope rather than core issues. The broad methodological questions conceming its academic evolution and disciplinary development are not only crucial but inherently complex. This papaer examines the distinct value and contemporary challenges of two primary research orientations - scientific positivism and traditional humanism - while proposing preliminary reflections on constructing China's autonomous knowledge systems for Area and Country Studies. The author argues that Area and Country Studies in China must first clarify the following fundamental relationships: scientific inquiry vs. humanistic concerns, disciplinary specialization vs. interdisciplinary integration, national/regional focus vs. global perspectives, and cultural particularity vs. universal values. Furthermore, building China's autonomous knowledge systems must deal with the relationships between sinicization and cosmopolitanism, empirical knowledge and theoretical frameworks, scholarly rigor and practical applicability, and plurality and unity. The author emphasizes that Area and Country Studies in China must respond to contemporary imperatives, harmonize scientific and humanistic approaches, and integrate Chinese values with shared human values, building China's autonomous knowledge system with Chinese characteristics to advance China's development, reform global governance, and foster a community with a shared future for humanity.
