英国模式、江南道路与资本主义萌芽

以往的世界近现代史研究一向认为西欧的发展道路具有放之四海而皆准的普遍意义。所谓西欧道路其实主要是英国模式 ,其核心即工业革命体现的经济变革。但近年欧洲经济史研究的最新成果证明 ,英国模式有其特殊性 ,即使在欧洲也不具有普遍意义。中国的资本主义萌芽理论是建立在英国模式基础上的。通过对英国模式和中国明清江南模式的比较 ,可以发现 ,如果没有西方的入侵 ,江南几乎不可能出现英国式的近代工业革命。资本主义萌芽理论研究陷入困境 ,实际上是套用英国模式的结果

The British Model, the Jiangnan (South of the Yangtze River) Method and the Seeds of Capitalism

In the past, studies on modern world history generally suggested that Western European forms of development were of universal significance and were based primarily based on the British model. The main feature of this model was that economic change resulted from the Industrial Revolution. Recent studies on the history of European economies have revealed, however, that the British model was specific and had no universal significance even in Europe. The theory of the seeds of capitalism in China was also based on the British model. Contrasting the British model with the Chinese model of economic development south of the Yangtze River during the Ming and Qing dynasties, it is clear that, without invasions from the West, a modern industrial revolution comparable to that in Britain could not have developed in this region. The indiscriminate application of the British model to China has led to the theory of the seeds of capitalism falling into disrepute.