International Social Science Journal (Chinese Edition)

No.1, 2026

Rethinking and Rebuilding: Exploring the Paths of Global Intellectual History

(Abstract)

Yuan Shang

In the field of global intellectual history, research in Anglo-American academia has presented two facets. One emphasizes the application of “global” analytical categories within the field of intellectual history, examining the global transmission, exchange, and interaction of ideas and paying attention to the global perceptions of historical figures. The other is grounded in the disciplinary foundations of intellectual history, revising and revitalizing existing methodologies through proposals such as “the return of the history of ideas” and “serial contextualism.” While the development of global intellectual history research enriches historical interpretation, it also confronts challenges, including the generalization of the concept of “global” and the blurring of the disciplinary boundaries of intellectual history. Consequently, it should constitute a basic consensus among global intellectual historians to employ global perspectives critically while accommodating multiple narrative scales, and to remain faithful to the core attributes of intellectual history while rethinking the value of traditional techniques and canonical themes.