On December 28, the National Office for Philosophy and Social Sciences announced the list of major projects of the National Social Science Fund of China in 2023, and Nankai University has seven projects on the list, being tied for eighth in the country. The list of approved projects are as follows:

The major project program of the National Social Science Fund of China, which was established with the approval of the National Office for Philosophy and Social Sciences, is the top-level and most authoritative program category with the largest funding in the field of humanities and social sciences in China. It has great theoretical value and practical significance, and is an important indicator for gauging a high-level university.

Introduction to approved projects:

Research on Major Historical Events Pertaining to the Origin of Chinese Civilization

Professor Cheng Pingshan, Faculty of History

Focusing on the research object of major historical events pertaining to the origin of Chinese civilization, this project aims to reconstruct and interpret the major historical events in the ages of the Five Emperors and the Xia Dynasty, and the core issue is the major historical events in the ages of the Five Emperors and the Xia Dynasty. This study intends to make substantial breakthroughs in the reconstruction and interpretation of historical chronology, the correspondence between historical chronology and archaeological culture, historical events, state forms, and social forms.

Collation and Study of Literature on Social Organizations and National Primary-level Governance in Modern China

Professor Cui Min, Faculty of History

In this project, the research objects include Trade and commercial organizations, Urban and rural management and defense organizations, Charitable and mutual aid organizations, Folk religious associations, as well as Emerging autonomous organizations in the Late Qing Dynasty. Based on comprehensive collection and collation of literature among the research scope of modern history, this project studies the development and evolution of social organizations, the state’s control of and response to social organizations, the relationship between social organizations and primary-level governance and so forth.

Research on the Optimization of Path of Regional Coordinated Development in the Process of Chinese Modernization

Professor Suo Liming, Zhou Enlai School of Government 

This project takes the perspective of incorporating “the essence and requirements of Chinese modernization” and “the path for promoting regional coordinated development” in state governance. Based on the historical orientation of the path of coordinated regional development, theoretical starting point, practical basis and current challenges, this project conducts in-depth research on theories and countermeasures to provide strong academic support for the formation of a high-quality regional governance system and governance capacity that is compatible with the process of Chinese modernization.

Research on the Advantages of Super-large Market and the Establishment of Industrial System Modernization

Professor Liu Weilin, College of Economic and Social Development

Based on the scientific connotation and development tasks of the modernization of the industrial system, this project intends to construct a theoretical framework from the perspective of the chain of “market supply and demand - industrial system”, characterize and simulate the transmission mechanism, and path and conditions between them, and then put forward the paths of realization including supply optimization, demand traction and high-quality development of the industry itself.

Risk Assessment and Countermeasures Study for the Reconstruction of Industrial and Supply Chains in Key Areas in the Context of Major-Country Competition

Professor Li Kunwang, School of Economics

This project focuses on the idea of “measuring the risks of industrial chain and supply chain in key areas, quantifying the economic effects of trade decoupling and supply chain disruption risks, and providing a crystal-clear feasible map for China’s coping strategies”. It provides a coherent economic theoretical analysis framework for the study of risk measurement and policy system adjustment in the context of global supply chain, and performs counterfactual simulation on the hedging effect of different policies on supply chain risks, so as to provide coping strategies and implementation paths for China to resist supply chain risks and realize high-quality economic development.

Research on the Cultural Underpinning and Historical Logic of Chinese Modernization from the Perspective of Sociology

Professor Xuan Chaoqing, Faculty of Sociology

From the perspective of sociology, this project analyzes and sorts out the cultural underpinning with “Chinese characteristics” in Chinese modernization and its role and trajectory in social development, creating important academic value for adding to the theoretical paradigm and path selection for Chinese modernization.

Compilation of General History of Russian Literary Criticism

Professor Wang Zhigeng, School of Literature 

The goal of this project is to compile the first multi-volume General History of Russian Literary Criticism in the international academic community. From the standpoint of Chinese scholars, this project aims to absorb what is beneficial for China’s cultural improvement through the “outsideness” writing of the history of Russian literary criticism, and to air the voice of Chinese scholars in the international arena in this field of research.

（Edited and translated by Nankai News Team.)