社会史与文化史先后在传统史学领地上突兀而起,被认为是近十年我国史学变革的两大标志。与文化史相比较,社会史似乎略显得有几分拘谨。毕竟她还是一门很年轻的学科。即使在社会史研究比较发达的西欧、北美,其兴盛也仅始于本世纪的中叶,至今仍充满争议,很难找到一致认同的定义。对刚刚复兴的中国社会史来说,它既要充分关注世界范围内该学科的进展和成功的经验,又必须依据中国社会的特点,作出自我选择,走自己的路。因此,目前应该努力创造一个多元化的、充分开放的学术讨论环境,从容地思考学科建设的各种方案,以期在沉着中求突破。 Social history and cultural history in the traditional historiography has risen unexpectedly, is considered to be the past ten years, the two major symbol of historical change. Compared with the cultural history, the social history seems a bit somewhat cautious. After all, she is still a very young subject. Even in western Europe and North America, where the social history is more developed, its prosperity has only started in the middle of this century. It is still controversial and it is hard to find a consensus. For the newly revived Chinese social history, it not only needs to pay full attention to the progress and successful experience of the discipline in the world, but also must make its own choice and go its own way according to the characteristics of Chinese society. Therefore, at present, efforts should be made to create a diversified and fully open academic discussion environment and deliberately think various disciplines of discipline construction so as to seek a breakthrough in calmness.