The First World History Frontiers Forum Convened in Beijing
Report from the Chinese Social Sciences Net (CSSN).
(Reporter Wang Chunyan) From September 12 to 13, the First Frontier Forum on World History was held in Beijing. Gao Xiang, President of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and President of the Chinese Academy of History [1]; Rebeca Lemos Igreja, Secretary-General of the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences (FLACSO); and Costas Gouliamos, Academician of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts and recipient of the Chinese Government Friendship Award, attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches.
Gao Xiang, President of CASS and President of the Chinese Academy of History, delivering his speech. Photo by Wang Zhou, CSSN.
Gao Xiang pointed out that the history and culture of a country or nation, especially its core civilizational elements, always centrally manifest that country or nation’s pursuit of values and historical character, becoming the deep internal support for its choice of path. Every civilization is irreplaceable in human history; the values and lifestyles of every country and nation should be respected, and each has the right to choose a development path that conforms to its own national conditions. We must promote exchange and mutual learning with a heart of equality, respect, and tolerance, and win the future through such exchanges. Currently, the shadows of Cold War mentality, hegemonism, and protectionism persist; new threats and challenges are increasing; the world has entered a new period of turbulence and transformation [2]; and global governance has reached a new crossroads. Human society needs to draw upon historical wisdom more than ever before. Historians must strengthen their research on the developmental course of human civilization, scientifically analyze the past and present of different civilizations, and reveal the internal logic of civilizational evolution. With a noble sense of responsibility and mission, they should grasp the forward direction of human civilization by looking back at history, scientifically providing answers to the questions of the world, the people, and the times [3]. They should explore paths for the coexistence and prosperity of different civilizations, contributing the strength of historiography to building a community with a shared future for humanity.
Rebeca Lemos Igreja stated that history is closely intertwined with the present and the future. Telling historical stories well is of great significance for different countries to join hands in addressing challenges in the future. World history should be written in a more diverse manner; in particular, those marginalized histories and cultures should not be ignored or forgotten. This requires our collective efforts to engage in cross-cultural dialogue. This forum has established a platform for communication and exchange. Scholars from different countries and regions have broken through geographical and linguistic barriers to rethink world history from a brand-new perspective, which will surely enhance mutual understanding, deepen cooperation, and promote the development of the discipline of history.
Costas Gouliamos stated that civilization is the "catalyst" for human progress. Throughout human history, civilizations have always evolved through dialogue and exchange. Different civilizations need to understand one another and engage in mutual learning to jointly push humanity toward a more balanced and inclusive future. In the 21st century, humanity is more closely connected than ever before. We should conduct in-depth research on how different civilizations influence one another and pursue peace, harmony, and cooperation under the premise of respecting civilizational diversity. We must integrate the research methods of history, archaeology, anthropology, and sociology to deeply study the common heritage of humanity and promote the construction of a more inclusive global narrative.
Sub-forum venue. Photo provided by the Chinese Academy of History.
The theme of this forum was "The Inheritance of Civilizations and Historical Paths." Nearly 300 experts and scholars from countries including China, the United States, Russia, France, Germany, Egypt, and Japan, as well as from the Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan regions, attended the forum. They engaged in profound dialogue and intellectual exchange centered on such topics as "Pluralistic Models of the Origin and Development of Civilizations," "Civilizational Evolution and the Formation of Historical Paths," "Modern China and the World amidst the Clash of Civilizations," "Civilizational Diversity and the Choice of Different Historical Paths," "The Historical Process and Contemporary Value of Civilizational Exchange and Mutual Learning," "Cultural Fusion, Dialogue, and a Community with a Shared Future for Humanity," and "Historical Paths and the Future of Human Civilization."
The forum was hosted by the Chinese Academy of History of CASS, and organized by the Institute of Archaeology, the Institute of Ancient History, the Institute of Modern History, the Institute of World History, the Institute of Chinese Borderland Studies, the Institute of History Theory (all under the Chinese Academy of History), and the University of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
Source: Chinese Social Sciences Net Web Editor: Tongxin