Strategic coupling,cross-scalar tension and local upgrading in the globalizing automotive industry in Guangzhou,China

This paper examines how latecomer firms manage to achieve industrial upgrading through strategic coupling with global lead firms in automotive production networks. Drawing upon the example of the Guangzhou Automotive Corporation in southern China, this paper theorizes ‘cross-scalar tension’ as a key factor to explain why the four cases of strategic coupling between lead firms, the same domestic firm and state ended in different results, from decoupling to a sustainable coupling with local upgrading. This paper contributes to the pertinent literature by demonstrating that cross-scalar tension is inherent to the nature of global production networks, and unreconciled tension concerning different corporate strategies on technological transfer, localization and product development could lead to decoupling. Importantly, good coordination and matching on corporate strategies between lead and domestic firms could relieve cross-scalar tensions, thus fostering local industrial upgrading and sustainable strategic coupling.     

对外交流与文化张力——南京对外文化交流史析说

多元一体的中国文化在形成和发展过程中,大体经历了中华各民族文化内部交融及与外域文化交流这两大类型的历史性整合。南京作为著名的历史文化名城,区域政治、经济、文化中心,缘于南北交汇和通江达海的优越地理位置,历史上两大类型的文化整合在此都有集中体现。在不断整合的历史过程中,不同文化的碰撞、交流、融合成就了南京广博精深的地域文化体系和开放的文化性格。     

离心力与向心力——从《最蓝的眼睛》探析莫里森笔下的种族张力

莫里森在《最蓝的眼睛》里从生存、情感和文化三个方面描写了离心力与向心力的博弈。追求个性主义的离心力与追求种族凝聚力的向心力之间的激烈冲突为黑人提供了在追求种族平等和社会正义的斗争中实现自我的契机。莫里森不仅继承和发扬了黑人文学的优良传统，而且还对种族偏见与种族歧视进行了深刻的批判，特别是从黑人女性的视角对性别歧视、阶层疏离、价值观沦丧和心理变态等问题，作了深入而犀利的揭露和剖析。黑人内化白人审美观、价值观和交际观后会产生巨大的离心力，时常背离黑人文化传统，与黑人文化的向心力发生激烈冲突。离心力和向心力的博弈直接挑战了美国社会的种族文化传统和种族文化身份。     

新帝国主义的表现向度、内在张力及其超越

新帝国主义登上历史舞台后,其在具体的逻辑运演过程中呈现出“内在辩证法”:作为资本主义发展的必经阶段,新帝国主义形成了具有客观必然性的“经济、政治、文化、生态”四位一体式表现向度及与其对应的内在张力。在面对存在诸多“内在张力”的困境时,新帝国主义没有坐以待毙,而是采取种种措施进行治标不治本的内在超越以继续高歌猛进。然而,新帝国主义这些“自救”措施非但没能消弭其内在张力,反而促使其变得更加凶险,从而引发国际形势愈发动荡不安。