A Study On The Frontier Theory Of Owen Lattimore

As a representative figure of the Frontier School in20^th century, Owen Lattimore,whose academic writings have become a classic of frontier research, took over theleading position of frontier study after Turner. However, due to his special experience（served as Chiang Kai-shek’s American advisers and a victim of McCarthyism）, thereis little research on Lattimore in China. This paper attempts to analyze the works oflattimore and sum up the paradigm of his frontier study, showing the impact anddefect of his research to bring out a relatively complete and comprehensiveunderstanding of his academic achievement.This paper can be divided into three parts:Part one is an introduction, which analyzes the practical significance ofLattimore’s frontier doctrinal studies, pointing out the shortcomings of his frontiertheory with an explanation of the ideas and framework of this paper.The second part is the main body of the thesis, which is consisted by six chapters:The second chapter is a review of Lattimore’s frontier theory, which reveals thehistorical background of his research. From late19th century to early20th century, theUnited States is in a period of industrialization and social transformation. With therapid development of economy, some social problems emerged. The view of"Biogenesis" was prevailed in the field of history studies in America, which placedAmerican history as a stereotype of European history and denied the uniqueness ofAmerican civilization. This kind of history views led to the opposition of theAmerican academics. Turner pointed out that the westward movement of the UnitedStates could be explored to discover the root of American identity, through which hecreated Frontier School and launched a strong counterattack to the control of"Biogenesis" to American history studies. After Turner, Lattimore became arepresentative figure of the Frontier School.The third chapter is a general introduction of lattimore’s life experience with anemphasis on his special feeling towards China. Lattimore came to China in his earlyage and became a “walker” in China’s northern border area. Through his travelling innorthern China, Lattimore has accumulated a lot of intuitive understanding of Chinaand laid the foundation for being a Chinese studies expert. Lattimore placed Chinesestudies as the focus of his research and published many works about China, whichenabled him to won wide praise from academia. Later, Lattimore entered politics andbecame the Chiang Kai-shek’s American adviser who witnessed the surging of the Sino-US relations. Throughout his lifetime, Lattimore has developed a deep feelingand a close connection with China.The fourth chapter is a main introduction of the formation of Lattimore’s frontiertheory. Through the analysis of several Lattimore’s classics works, this chapteroutlined the development of his academic ideas. The Desert Road to Turkestan is thedebut of lattimore’ works, which analyzed the reality through the perspective ofhistory and marked the roots of his frontier research; Manchuria: Cradle of Conflict isan analyze of the northeast region of China, pointing out its significant role in historyand reality.The fifth chapter relates to the development of Lattimore’s frontier theory.The“Reservoir Theory” and Inner Asian Frontiers of China of Lattimore marked thecoming of mature period of his frontier theory. Giving a different interpretation ofChinese history in the book, Lattimore replaced the historical status of the nomadsand provide a new model of Chinese Studies. Solution in Asia, The Situation in Asiaand Pivot of Asia marked a new development and improvement of Lattimore’s frontiertheory, through which he applied his theory to the analysis of Asia and highlighted theimportant position of Asia as well as implement his own theory.The sixth chapter is the paradigm of Lattimore’s frontier theory, this chapteranalyzes several important concept of Lattimore’s frontier research paradigm andperspective: the importance of the natural geographical complexity, the instability ofthe frontier, reservoir theory, Sino-centric sphere of order and the challenge toEurocentrism. Through these concepts, one can obtain a relatively comprehensivesystem of his research ideas and the theoretical framework.The seventh chapter pointed out the influences and defects of Lattimore’s frontiertheory. The significance of his frontier theory can be summed up as follows: initiatingthe study of global studies, raising a trend of nomadic studies, improving the ChineseStudies, verifying the methods of field research and comprehensive analyzes-in aword, contributing greatly to history studies. At the same time, there are certain defectof Lattimore’s frontier theory.The third part is the epilogue, which serves as a comment and summary ofLattimore’s frontier theory and indicates the importance and significance of the studyof Lattimore’s frontier theory.