现代西方的中国学研究大致经历了两个代际的变化。第一代是历史主义流派主导的，第二代是意识形态至上流派所主导的。当代西方对中国的认知，不论是学术界或大众媒体，都深受这两大代际流派的影响。

　　Generally speaking, in the modern era, Chinesestudies in the West have gone through two main generations: the firstgeneration dominated by the historic school and the second generationcontrolled by the ideological school. Contemporary Western perceptions ofChina, in both the academic world and popular press, are deeply affected bythese two schools.

　　现代中国学研究的第一代，可以追溯到20世纪初，用历史主义的语境研究现代中国，研究方法深受中国传统文化影响，研究领域涵盖了中国的政治、历史、社会状况和引领中国现代史的领袖人物。

　　The first generation which dates back to early20th century studies modern China in the historic context. Its research method isstrongly influenced by traditional Chinese culture. The research field coversChina’s political, historical and social conditions, including leading figuresin China’s modern history.

　　中国学的第二代，始于1989年，在后冷战时代的意识形态狂热中诞生。这一时期的研究，陷入自由民主或专制独裁的意识形态两元对立。在研究取向上，强调政治立场先行和意识形态挂帅，目的只有一个，即证明中国的政治制度必 然崩溃。可惜，这一代流派的研究一再被中国成功发展的事实证伪，备受质疑。

　　The second generation was born in 1989 amid thepost Cold War ideological fever. The studies in this period were characterized bythe ideological dichotomy between liberal democracy and authoritarianism. The expectationof studies carried a political and ideological agenda - to prove the Chinesepolitical system will be doomed to failure. However, these studies were underquestion as they were against the fact of China's successful development againand again.

　　第三代中国学发端于新的形势背景下，研究方法和取向都不同以往。这一代流派的演进，将推动中国学从基础结构上发生转型，并使世界对中国的认知产生决定性影响。最近几十年来，中国全方位快 速崛起，全球政治、历史、经济研究的顶 尖人士，纷纷聚焦中国，希望探究这一历史重大事件的深远含义。这个群体不再像前两代那样限于中国通，而是来自各个领域。

　　The third generation of Chinese studiesoriginated in a new situation, with a new research method and orientation. Theevolution of this school will fundamentally transform Chinese studies and exerta decisive influence on the world's perception of China. With China’s rapidrise over the past decades, leaders in politics, history, and economicresearches across the world shifted their attention to China, trying to explorethe far-reaching meaning of this historic event. This group, not confined toChina hands as before, comes from various fields.

　　另一个趋向可以称为实证派，即以收集客观数据为基本研究方法，客观分析中国的治理模式。

　　Another trend can be categorized under empiricalschool whose basic research method is gathering objective data in order toanalyzes China's governance fairly.