A comparative study of two world cities, Kobe and Shinghai

日本科比大学和中国复旦大学的联合研究旨在比较科比和上海这两个国际大都市，从沿着几个维度，预测这两个城市是作为对帝国主义政治势力的积极和消极的回应而发展起来的，是作为近代世界经济体系的一部分。该研究的一大特色是跨学科，涵盖了社会科学（国际关系、政治、经济、法律、工商管理）和人文科学（历史、文学、社会学、艺术），共有25位教授参与了这项联合研究项目。我们的发现是：（1）上海经济文化的复兴是20世纪80年代开始的门户开放政策的产物，（2）1995年地震后的科比需要与上海和长江流域建立更紧密的经济联系，因为它的经济活力来自港口和交通活动，（3）上海是中国多中心的文化中心，科比在一个单一中心的日本，不能超过一个时尚中心，虽然东京是所有活动的国家中心，无论是在政治，经济或文化，（4）关西地区与科比可以是一个对口的长江与上海的经济，（5）两地在历史上在文化和人际网络方面有着良好的关系。（6）如今，两所大学之间的教授和学生交流更为必要，因为这是两个国际城市之间文化交流活动的重要组成部分。（7）两个城市之间更好的关系可以成为世界全球化进程的一个组成部分。

The aim of this joint research between Kobe University in Japan and Futan University in China is to compare two international cities, Kobe and Shanghai, along several dimensions, predicated on the assumpiton that they have been developed as a response, positive and negative, to the imperial political forces and, as part of the world economic system in the modern period. A major feature of this research is multi-disciplinary, covering the social sciences (international relations, politics, economics, law, business administration) and the humanities (history, literature, sociology, arts).Twenty five professors in total take part in this joint research project. Our findings are : (1) A resurgent Shanghai in economics and culture is a product of the Open Door Policy starting from the 1980s, (2) Kobe after the Earthquake of 1995 needs a closer economic tie with Shanghai and the Yangtse River Zone as its economic energy comes from port and transportation activities, (3) While shanghai is a cultural center in a multi-central China, Kobe cannot be more than a fashion center in a uni-central Japan, although Tokyo is the national center of all activities in terms of politics, economics or culture, (4) The Kansai Area with Kobe can be a counterpart of the Yangtse River with Shanghai in economic terms, (5) Both areas have enjoyed a good relationship with each other in culture and human networks throughout the history, (6) Nowadays exchange of professors and students between both universities is more needed as it forms essential part of cultural exchange activities between both international cities, and (7) A better relationship between both cities can be an integral part of globalization process in the world.