Theoretical Dislocation and Juxtaposition: The Reestablishment of Chinese Sociology in the 1980s

Chinese sociology began its reestablishment in the late 1970s, following its abolition in the 1950s during the formation of New China in 1949 and a shift in higher education strategy. Due to its prolonged abolition, Chinese sociology was out of step with the theoretical developments of Western sociology, despite being regarded as one of the world’s most flourishing disciplines prior to World War II.

The reestablishment of sociology as a discipline in China became intertwined with the introduction of postmodernism and postcolonialism into Chinese academic circles. At the same time, various opposing historical theories were also introduced into the Chinese context. For Chinese sociologists, Max Weber was regarded as a prophetic figure in diagnosing Chinese culture during the 1980s, and as a key classical theorist who inspired the reconstruction of Chinese sociology. In contrast, scholars in literature and arts theory who engaged with postmodern and postcolonial thought were eager to pursue an alternative modernity grounded in Chinese autonomy, aiming to debunk and deconstruct Western-centric theories. Following this trend, Max Weber’s work was challenged for its connections to Orientalism.

As a result, the landscape of social theory in Chinese sociology during the 1980s became somewhat unusual. On one hand, the theoretical dislocation caused by the abolition of Chinese sociology created significant gaps. On the other hand, the reestablishment and institutionalization of Chinese sociology in the 1980s brought a juxtaposition of opposing theories. This influence continues to shape contemporary Chinese sociology.