【IAS】Guest Lecture: “Re-Thinking Global Political Theory” was successfully held
【高研院】嘉賓講座：”對全球政治理論的再思考“圓滿舉行
On January 16, Guest Lecture on the topic of “Re-Thinking Global Political Theory” was successfully held, organized by the Institute of Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences (IAS). The speaker, Professor Michael Puett, Professor of Chinese History and Anthropology and Director of the Asia Center at Harvard University, delved into the impact of neoliberalism on the global economy and positioned China’s political debates within a larger historical context to foster a more global understanding of political theory. Professor Xingzhong Yu, Director of IAS and Chair Professor of the Department of Global Legal Studies of FLL, was invited to moderate the talk.
In his address, Professor Michael Puett highlighted that while neoliberalism presents a relatively clear narrative globally, this narrative might need rethinking from a Chinese perspective. He traced the historical evolution of neoliberal policies, particularly their resurgence during the 1970s stagflation in the U.S., emphasizing how these theories influenced leaders like Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan, leading to the dismantling of welfare states and public institutions.
Additionally, Professor Yu emphasized the complexities of integrating Western neoliberal ideas into China’s unique context, particularly how to balance rational choice theory and emotional decision-making. He encouraged the audience to consider how evaluating interest maximization is often emotionally charged yet can still be deemed rational within China’s ideological framework.
During the Q&A session, the audience engaged actively on the influence of global governance systems on national economic policy sovereignty. Professor Michael Puett pointed out that nations signing onto such agreements often cede economic policy sovereignty, leading to increased wealth concentration and inequality. He called for a radical reevaluation of existing economic and administrative frameworks to address contemporary global challenges effectively.
In conclusion, the lecture not only provided an in-depth analysis of neoliberalism but also prompted attendees to reflect on how to re-examine political theory in the context of globalization. This event undoubtedly offered rich intellectual insights and sparked deeper considerations for future economic policies and governance models.
1月16日，澳門大學高研院成功舉辦主題為“對全球政治理論的再思考”的嘉賓講座。主講人為哈佛大學亞洲中心主任及中國歷史與人類學教授邁克爾·普特（Michael Puett）教授。講座深入探討了新自由主義對全球經濟的影響，並將中國的政治辯論置於更大的歷史背景之中，力求推動對政治理論的全球理解。本次講座的主持人為高研院院長、法學院環球法律學系講座教授於興中教授。
在講座中，邁克爾·普特教授指出，儘管新自由主義在全球範圍內相對清晰，但從中國的視角來看，這種狀況可能需要重新思考。他分析了新自由主義的歷史演變，特別是其與1970年代美國滯漲的關係，強調這一理論如何影響了領導者如撒切爾和里根的政策決策，以及推動了福利國家和公共機構的削弱。
於興中教授在隨後的討論中強調了將西方新自由主義思想融入中國獨特背景的複雜性，尤其是如何在理性選擇理論和情感決策之間找到平衡。他鼓勵與會者思考在中國這一特定意識形態背景下，如何理解和定義理性決策。
問答環節中，與會者積極提問，就全球治理體系及其對國家經濟政策主權的影響進行了討論。邁克爾·普特教授指出，國家在簽署全球治理協議時往往放棄了經濟政策的主權，導致了財富集中和不平等加劇。他呼籲對現有經濟和行政框架進行根本性的重新評估，以更有效地應對當今的全球挑戰。
此次講座不僅提供了對新自由主義的深入分析，還促使與會者反思如何在全球化的背景下重新審視政治理論。這場講座無疑為參與者提供了豐富的思想啓發，激發了對未來經濟政策和治理模式的深入思考。
