The Indigenization Debate in China: A Field Perspective. Issue 1 (2nd March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Junpeng; Xu, Songying; Zhang, Zhiqiang; Yang, Taiwen
• Other Names: Tenzin Jinba guestEditor.; Lee Chengpang guestEditor.
• Is Part Of: Journal of historical sociology. Volume 35:Issue 1(2022)
• Page Start: 55
• Page End: 68
• Publication Date: 2022-03-02
• Subjects: Historical sociology -- Periodicals; Social history -- Periodicals; 301.05
• DOI: 10.1111/johs.12356
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0952-1909

Abstract

Abstract: The indigenization of sociology has been an issue of considerable controversy in China. Rather than taking a side in the debate itself, this article intends to make sense of different perspectives in the debate. Utilizing Bourdieu's field theory, it links a sociologist's view on indigenization with the sociologist's position within China's sociological field. This article traces the history of the indigenization debate in China and proposes a theoretical model based on Bourdieu's insight. It then analyzes how the different combinations of academic and political capital shape the different positions on indigenization and how such a debate can be viewed as a symbolic struggle in the intellectual field.