关系学的逻辑及其运作——兼评《礼物、关系学与国家》

关系作为一种实践方式和文化特质,无论在日常生活中还是在国家运作中都有着重要的意义。在《礼物、关系学与国家:中国人际关系与主体性建构》一书中,杨美慧教授从一个局外人的眼光,比较系统地研究了中国城市的礼物交换和人际关系,发现中国的"礼品经济"和关系网络建构了一种与国家权力相抗衡的非正式权力,对关系资本主义、关系与腐败、关系式人情、女性在关系实践中的角色等方面进行了有益探讨,为我们透析关系运作的逻辑提供了一个别样的视角。

The Logic of Relations and the Reflection of Its Operation Comments on Gifts,Favors and Banquets

Relations,a mode of practice and cultural characteristic,are of great importance in both daily life and administration of the state.In Gifts,Favors and Banquets:The Art of Social Relationships in China,Professor Yang Meihui makes a systematic analysis on the phenomenon of gift exchange and the social relationships in Chinese cities from an outsider’ perspective.She finds that an informal power which can compete with the state power is formed in the "gift economy" and the net of relationships.She presents a useful study on different aspects,such as crony capitalism,relation between gifts and corruption,human relationships,and the role of females in the practice of relations.It provides us a different kind of perspective when analyzing the logic of relation practice.