1. Asian Sociology in an Era of Globalization (with Emphasis on Japan, China, and Korea)

Abstract

This chapter discusses the historical backgrounds of sociology in Japan, China, and Korea. Japanese sociology divides roughly into four stages of development: pre-World War II, with emphasis on theoretical and philosophical orientations, influenced primarily by European (especially German) sources; post-World War II, with growing emphasis on empirical orientations, influenced primarily by the United States; diversification, with emphases on both theoretical and empirical orientations; and globalization, with emphasis on theoretical orientations and an increasing number of empirical orientations, some encompassing cross-national and foreign area studies. The history of Chinese sociology involves five stages namely, adoption, institutionalization, expansion, suspension, and reconstruction. Though many Chinese sociologists have graduate degrees from the United States, degrees from Japan are now being recognized and accepted. A move to create a genuine Korean sociology began within the Korean Sociological Association in 1963. Keywords: Chinese sociology; globalization; Japanese sociology; Korean sociology