Abstract:

As an interdisciplinary field, the development of regional studies has been closely intertwined with geopolitical demands. During the Cold War, American regional studies exerted a certain influence on global academics, yet its prominence fluctuated alongside changes in the global landscape. The greatest strength of regional studies lies in its interdisciplinary integration, but this very characteristic has also led to a lack of a unified research paradigm, subjecting it to repeated challenges. Against the complex backdrop of deglobalization and anti-globalization, regional studies, guided by the principle of cultural exchange and mutual learning, is demonstrating renewed vitality. The fundamental goal of regional studies in China is to enhance the capability to understand foreign contexts through in-depth comprehension of the history, culture, and social structures of various regions, thereby fostering mutual recognition and communication.

Key words: region, regional studies, regional history, capability building in understanding foreign contexts