現今大多數的中國研究文獻,將中國知識視為科學主義所假定的普遍知識之一環,忽視研究者在知識生產過程中所可能起的作用本文從離散理論的視角,藉由深入的分析華裔政治學者鄭永年對於中國民族主義的論述,觀察華裔政治學者身處歐美知識界,但其論述中有特殊的為中國辯護之情,使其有別於西方學者或中國本土學者,唯表現的方式會因為個人決斷與所處情境來選擇回應的方式。顯現出不同身分的研究者看待中國的視野有所不同,身分的差異的確影響著研究者對於中國知識的詮釋。尤其是在跨界社群不斷增加的全球化時代,已逐漸彰顯出主客二元對立知識論的不足。身為研究者應隨時反省自己與研究對象間的關係,避免拘泥於特定的知識論,進而有助於理解政治知識的深刻意義。
The current literature on China studies usually conceives of knowledge on China as part of universal knowledge. The mutual constitution between the researcher and the researched is rarely discussed. We try to explore the interaction between the researcher's identity and his knowledge. By specifically examining Zheng Yongnian's writing on Chinese Nationalism, we detect a motive to defend China from universal knowledge, which domestic Chinese and western intellectuals might not do. We urge readers to reconsider researchers' intervention, albeit unintentionally or unwillingly, in the production of knowledge.