Abstract:

Fei Xiaotong advocated and practiced a scholarly approach grounded in fieldwork and an emic perspective to study Chinese society. Since the reform and opening-up, his research evolved from longitudinal studies of rural communities in Wujiang, Jiangsu, to investigations of Wujiang's small towns, coastal regions, and border areas. He consistently engaged in "fieldwork and more fieldwork", urging scholars to "go to the villages and towns to observe and reflect". He introduced original concepts and viewpoints such as "rural industrialization", "aiming to enrich the people", the "Southern Jiangsu Model", "small towns, a major issue", "coordinated urban-rural development", "cultural consciousness", and "appreciating the beauty in others". His work, aimed at "scientifically studying Chinese society", "transforming society", "serving the people", and "serving humanity" embodies the modern values of industrialization, urbanization, prosperity for the people, and cultural self-awareness. Consequently, he has advanced the construction of an autonomous discourse system in Chinese sociology and made significant contributions to expanding the theoretical innovation of Chinese modernization.Learning from and carrying on Fei Xiaotong's academic innovation and its modern value must begin with investigative research and refining concepts that capture social phenomena from the practice of China's modernization, thereby enriching and developing the autonomous discourse system of Chinese modernization. It is essential to provide timely and scientific answers to the new questions of our era and combine the inheritance of traditional Chinese culture with the innovation of Chinese modernization theory by addressing practical problems and promoting practical development, and ultimately "writing academic papers on the soil of our homeland". In the face of external risks and challenges, it is crucial to broaden our global perspective, harness Chinese wisdom, and chart a course for global cooperative governance pathways with a proactive historical spirit, and build a beautiful world of "harmony without uniformity".

Key words: rural industrialization, small towns, coordinated urban-rural development, enriching the people, cultural consciousness, appreciating the beauty in others