AMERICAN STUDIES Fall 1996，Vol. 10, No. 3 ARTICLES JANPAN-U.S. RELATIONSHIP: FROM POST-WWII TO POST-COLD WAR Feng Zhaokui(7) Post-World War II Japanese diplomacy privoted on the Janpan-U.S. rellationship enabled Japan to make full use of the Cold War bipolar pattern for its own development. With the growth of its economy and national strength, its "follower's diplomacy" toward America is being gradually replaced by an "autonomous diplomacy." Japan's "comprehensive diplomacy" is an indirect means for changing its subordinate status. As Japan still needs U.S. nucllear umbrella and military protection of its seallanes, keeping security relationship with the United States is its best choice. However, the relationship is undergoing a quiet "quantitative change" which may turn into a "qualitative change" unexpectedly. SECTION 301 OF THE U.S. TRADE ACT Yang Guohua (21) From time to time, the United States has used or threatened to use Section 301 of its Trade Act to retaliate upon its trade partners in the practice of worlld trade. Proceeding from exploring the historical evolution of the section, the author traces the root of the mechanism and means of retaliation in the Act, makes detailed investigations particularly into the formulation of Section 301, and enriches the readers's knowledge of this topic with a comprehensive analysis. AMERICA'S UPPER CLASS Li Zhihui (41) The upper cllass in the United States refers to those people who are successful in their career. They have the following characteristics in common: owning large properties, being identified with upper class by other members, having certain class ssymbolizing styles, and educational background in special schools. Being the most powerful and influential people with the most stable social status, the upper class ovverlaps the elite on some points, upper class. Those from the unprivileged can also attain elite status. Generally speaking, the upper class is the ruling group in the United States now. THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATIONS' DILEMMA IN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION Zhu Shida (63) The paper discusses the paradox of the affirmative action program in practice in the United States which is beset with: a. stagnation of the middle class income; b. worsening racial problems; and c. stagnant economic growth. In the election year, the Republicans who stand for meritocracy use the affirmative action as a wedge issue to counter the Democrats who advocate the benefits of the program in relieving racial tensions and improving the lot of the ethnic minorities and women. The paper concludes that, as the racial problem is deeply rooted in American political culture, it cannot be relieved of the fix. JOHN KING FAIRBANK'S CULTURAL OUTLOOK ON CHINESE-WESTERN RELATIONS Pan Chengxin (85) The article analyzess the cultural perspective of the late China scholar John King Fairbank in approaching China's modern history and his basic attitude toward Chinese and western cultures, as well as the theoretical modes of "impact-response" and "tradition- transformation" stemming therefrom. The author also comments on Fairbank's cultural outlook from the aspects of theoretical foundation, observing toolls, value orientation, and logical argumentation, and points out the significance of his cultural understanding and insolvable tensions in this cultural outlook. INVESTIGATIONS ON THE ANGUS WARD INCIDENT Chang Mingyu(103) The incident of Angus Ward, U.S. consul general in Shenyang in the late forties, was the first face-to-face diplomatic confrontation between New China and the United States. The author carefully investigates into and analyzes the affair from the angle of international law, linking it to the international situation and domestic conditions in China at that time, and argues that this experience may be illustrative of how Sino-U.S. relations may develop in the future. OBSERVATIONS AND REFLECTIONS PERCEPTIONS OF U.S.-CHINA-JAPAN RELATIONS Zhang Yebai(116) REMINISCENCES OF LLATE SCHOLARS PROF.. LUO RONGQU AND THE STUDY OF AMERICAN HISTORY Yang Yusheng(123) BOOK REVIEWS BUILDING THE BRIDGE OF UNDERSTANDING-COMMENTS ON THE RESULTS OF THE STUDIEIS OF SINO-U.S. RELATIONS HISTORY IN THE LAST FIFTEEN YEARS OF REFORM AND OPENING Zi Zhongyun(133) SOURCES AND SIGNS OF SINO-U.S. HOSTILITES-A REVIEW OF THE ORIGINS OF HISTILITIES AND CONFLICTS Zhou Guiyin (142) GEORGE F. KENNAN'S THOUGHT OF CONTAINMENT AND U.S. CONTAINMENT STRATEGY-NOTES ON ZHANG XIAOMING'S GEORGE KENAN'S CONTAINMENT THOUGHT Ren Donglai(146) ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES(152) NEW BOOKS(156) EDITORS NOTE (160)