現(xiàn)代西方的中國學(xué)研究大致經(jīng)歷了兩個(gè)代際的變化。第一代是歷史主義流派主導(dǎo)的，第二代是意識(shí)形態(tài)至上流派所主導(dǎo)的。當(dāng)代西方對(duì)中國的認(rèn)知，不論是學(xué)術(shù)界或大眾媒體，都深受這兩大代際流派的影響。

　　Generally speaking, in the modern era, Chinesestudies in the West have gone through two main generations: the firstgeneration dominated by the historic school and the second generationcontrolled by the ideological school. Contemporary Western perceptions ofChina, in both the academic world and popular press, are deeply affected bythese two schools.

　　現(xiàn)代中國學(xué)研究的第一代，可以追溯到20世紀(jì)初，用歷史主義的語境研究現(xiàn)代中國，研究方法深受中國傳統(tǒng)文化影響，研究領(lǐng)域涵蓋了中國的政治、歷史、社會(huì)狀況和引領(lǐng)中國現(xiàn)代史的領(lǐng)袖人物。

　　The first generation which dates back to early20th century studies modern China in the historic context. Its research method isstrongly influenced by traditional Chinese culture. The research field coversChina’s political, historical and social conditions, including leading figuresin China’s modern history.

　　中國學(xué)的第二代，始于1989年，在后冷戰(zhàn)時(shí)代的意識(shí)形態(tài)狂熱中誕生。這一時(shí)期的研究，陷入自由民主或?qū)Ｖ篇?dú)裁的意識(shí)形態(tài)兩元對(duì)立。在研究取向上，強(qiáng)調(diào)政治立場先行和意識(shí)形態(tài)掛帥，目的只有一個(gè)，即證明中國的政治制度必 然崩潰�？上В�這一代流派的研究一再被中國成功發(fā)展的事實(shí)證偽，備受質(zhì)疑。

　　The second generation was born in 1989 amid thepost Cold War ideological fever. The studies in this period were characterized bythe ideological dichotomy between liberal democracy and authoritarianism. The expectationof studies carried a political and ideological agenda - to prove the Chinesepolitical system will be doomed to failure. However, these studies were underquestion as they were against the fact of China's successful development againand again.

　　第三代中國學(xué)發(fā)端于新的形勢背景下，研究方法和取向都不同以往。這一代流派的演進(jìn)，將推動(dòng)中國學(xué)從基礎(chǔ)結(jié)構(gòu)上發(fā)生轉(zhuǎn)型，并使世界對(duì)中國的認(rèn)知產(chǎn)生決定性影響。最近幾十年來，中國全方位快 速崛起，全球政治、歷史、經(jīng)濟(jì)研究的頂 尖人士，紛紛聚焦中國，希望探究這一歷史重大事件的深遠(yuǎn)含義。這個(gè)群體不再像前兩代那樣限于中國通，而是來自各個(gè)領(lǐng)域。

　　The third generation of Chinese studiesoriginated in a new situation, with a new research method and orientation. Theevolution of this school will fundamentally transform Chinese studies and exerta decisive influence on the world's perception of China. With China’s rapidrise over the past decades, leaders in politics, history, and economicresearches across the world shifted their attention to China, trying to explorethe far-reaching meaning of this historic event. This group, not confined toChina hands as before, comes from various fields.

　　另一個(gè)趨向可以稱為實(shí)證派，即以收集客觀數(shù)據(jù)為基本研究方法，客觀分析中國的治理模式。

　　Another trend can be categorized under empiricalschool whose basic research method is gathering objective data in order toanalyzes China's governance fairly.