本文主旨在以政治社會學角度申論台灣社區大學之宏觀情境,其中並就國家、社會與全球化的角度,兼採他國〈主要為美國〉的發展經驗作為分析。在國家方面,本文說明了「國家」對社區大學的關鍵性角色,但也指出「國家」的困境及可能的走向。在社會方面,本文比較了其他先進國家公民意識發展的歷史脈絡,突出各國社區大學或學院的政社之歷史背景。據此,本文指出台灣的「社會」與「社區」概念在認同上的問題及複雜性。因此建議,社區大學必須在發展上妥善處理這一課題。在全球化方面,本文點出全球化對「認同」及「社區」的可能衝擊;並分析國家認同與全球認同的內在關聯性,由此指出社區大學對社區的思考必須考慮全球化的因素。最後,以台灣社區大學四個類型的課程歸類呼應前面的觀點,同時也據以討論目前社區大學發展的現狀與一些困難。
This paper aims to analyze the socio-political backgrounds and functions of community universities in Taiwan. The state, the social context and globalization process of Taiwan as well as their interaction are the foci of discussion. The critical influence of the state on community universities, and the impasse they meet when facing challenges from forces of society and of globalization are elaborated. Historical citizenship and community identity are discussed and used for the evaluation of the development of community universities; the tremendous impact of globalization on community universities is also emphasized. Finally, community universities in Taiwan are categorized into four ideal-types to elaborate and deepen the previously mentioned analyses.