鑽石舞台

《學神》是一本在世界各地追蹤28位新生代中國菁英的民族誌。本書探討了中國大陸的菁英高中生如何為全球競爭做準備、以及他們如何在競爭中勝出。透過長達八年(2012-2020)的田野資料，本書指出菁英高中生所習得的三項讓有助於角逐全球菁英地位的能力。第一，他們必須了解地位體系的機制，並且需要學習如何辨識並獲得被重視的個人特質，且避開不受待見的特質。第二，他們透過與同儕、老師和父母的互動，學習並強化與各自地位相應的人際互動模式。第三，他們擁有資源充沛的父母，能夠幫助他們制定後備計劃，以應對突發狀況。中國的菁英學生在進入中、美、英等地大學就學期間，亦不斷磨練這些技巧，並且以此與來自世界各地的同儕互動。大學畢業後，這群年輕人進入華爾街、硅谷，和新加坡中央商務區就業。無論他們身在何處，都持續使用這些技巧與同事和主管互動。《學神》宣告了中國新生代菁英在全球化競爭下的到來，並指出跨國菁英階級的崛起。

Study Godsis an ethnography follows 28 elite Chinese youths over time and around the world. It asks how elite high schoolers in China prepare for global competition, and how they become incredibly successful at it. Using data from eight years of ethnographic fieldwork (2012-2020), this book finds that elite high school studentslearn three important lessons that help them pursue global elite status. First,they must understand the setup of the status system: they learn to recognizeand acquire the characteristics that are prized, while avoiding those that are not.Second, they maintain status by performing sets of status-based behaviors, whichguide daily their interactions with peers, teachers, and parents. Third, withthe help of resourceful parents, they learn to prepare for contingency byhaving backup plans. Elite Chinese students hone these skills as they entercollege campuses in China, the U.S., and the U.K. and interact with peers fromaround the world. After graduation, they embark on careers on Wall Street, in Silicon Roundabout,and in Singapore’s Central Business District. No matter where they are, they continueto apply the same skills in interactions with colleagues and supervisors. Study Gods announces the arrival of the Chineseelite in global status competition and calls for the acknowledgement of a risinggroup of transnational global elites.