Robert Park in China

Abstract

The Chicago School of urban sociology was not only influential in the U.S., but also instrumental for introducing sociology to China in the early 20th century. Drawing upon archival materials from the University of Chicago’s special collection, this chapter examines Robert Park’s connections to China in the 1930s and highlights the pivotal role of the Chicago School in the education of the first generation of Chinese sociologists. The chapter argues that there is still much to be learned from the Chicago School, such as its effort to formulate a reflective research agenda in The City (1925), and Robert Park’s gesture of comparing cities across time and places. It suggests reviving Park’s comparative spirit and engaging comparison in the next course of urban China studies.