What is the use of history in times of great transformation?

We are living through a profound historical shifts: Globalization is in retreat, new technologies disrupt ever more domains and industries, and the threat of geopolitical conflict seems to intensify daily. In the face of uncertainty and upheaval, history is not merely a record of the past—it is the key to understanding the present. Amidst the daily flood of breaking news and events that defy conventional understanding, it may seem as though history has become irrelevant. But is that truly the case? Can we not still draw fresh knowledge and insights from history to prepare for today’s upheavals and seek answers for an uncertain future?

The 725 Salon has invited Professor Yang Kuisong from the Department of History at East China Normal University to explore this question. From a long-term historical perspective, he will analyze the patterns and lessons of great transformations—how can history help us cut through the chaos and navigate the complexities of our reality?

This salon will be conducted in Chinese, with AI-generated English subtitles.

大变局下历史有什么用？

全球化退潮、技术颠覆、地缘冲突……我们正经历一场深刻的历史变局。面对未知与动荡，历史不仅是过去的记录，更是理解当下的钥匙。面对每天各种各样的突发新闻，以及突破我们常规认知的突发事件，好像历史已经毫无用处了。但是真的是这样吗？我们真的不能够从历史当中获取更新的知识和洞见，来为今天的巨变做准备，来为未来的未知寻找答案吗？

为此，本次725沙龙特别邀请了华东师范大学历史学系教授杨奎松，从长时段视角出发，解析大变革时代的规律与启示——历史如何帮助我们穿透迷雾，在纷繁复杂的现实中锚定方向。

本次沙龙将以中文进行，配有AI翻译的英文字幕。

Yang Kuisong has held various academic positions, including editor at the Party School of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, lecturer at Renmin University of China, researcher at the Institute of Modern History of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, professor at Peking University, and professor at East China Normal University.

杨奎松，历任中共中央党校编辑、中国人民大学讲师、中国社会科学院近代史研究所研究员、北京大学教授、华东师范大学教授。