On the third day of the EAA program, students from Peking University and the University of Tokyo attended a lecture by Professor Qu Jingdong from Peking University’s Department of Sociology, titled Sociology as a Study of Civilization. The lecture focused on the role of sociology in understanding the interaction between civilization and modernization. During the session, Professor Qu emphasized that sociology must extend beyond contemporary social issues and consider the deeper historical roots of civilizations. He explained how the works of Karl Marx, Émile Durkheim, and Max Weber offer valuable insights into the development of modern societies. He also stressed the importance of each society developing its own sociological approach, reflecting its unique cultural and historical context. Professor Qu further discussed the challenges modernization presents, noting that while it brings economic development, it also introduces new social contradictions. He pointed out that sociology’s role is to uncover and address these contradictions. The lecture also highlighted the importance of adopting a global perspective in sociological research. Professor Qu encouraged students to explore how different civilizations interact and influence each other, stressing the need to balance local experiences with broader global viewpoints to better understand social change.

Reported by HAN Binze (The University of Tokyo)