凤凰网今天转载了一篇选自《中国青年报》的署名文章：禾刀：看中国酒桌社交的江湖式诚信。文章对现流行的“酒桌文化”做了一番分析，探讨了社会诚信危机与“酒”之联系。转载于此共享。

如今，越来越多的外国人了解了中国从北到南，从商场到官场的“酒桌社交”，甚至明白了汉语语境下“关系”一词的含义。但他们除了依旧不能适应中国的 酒桌文化外，还认为这背后隐藏着制度、体制问题。英国《金融时报》形容说，在中国，“关系”是一个迷宫般的网络，外人很难窥得其中的奥秘，维护这个迷宫需 要昂贵的成本，而酒是其中一项。（《西安晚报》8月17日）

别说外国人搞不懂，就是置身于酒桌社交中的国民，也常常深感既被酒桌社交所累，又常常难置身于外，否则，要么与社会格格不入，沦为孤家寡人，进而工作推动起来自然十分艰难。酒桌社交风潮之下，形成了许多灰色关系哲学，比如“酒杯一端，政策放宽；酒足饭停，不行也行；饭馆酒醉，不是也对”。灰色哲学的背后，终其根本在于一个“求”字，即有求一方向被求一方以酒饭表达原则之外的感情忠诚。

平级如朋友亲人也有以酒饭盛情的，但真正对社会构成危害的则是不同等级为“求”而来的酒饭款待。如同下级对上级，项目争取方对审批方，乙方对甲方， 政策公关者对把关者……一些从事业务的人深知，酒桌是沟通的理想渠道之一，许多业务正是在觥筹交错的杯光酒影中达成的。正因如此，敬酒者唯恐意不真情不 切，宁愿以醉“殉忠”，唯此才可能达成请客吃饭拉拢感情的最终目的，这点很像武侠小说里大碗喝酒称兄道弟式的江湖式诚信，只是，在这种酒饭铰接的江湖式诚 信链条的同时，原则业已沦为夯实个人感情的筹码。也不知道万科的王石，在深感不行贿被孤立被嘲笑的背后，到底有多少幕后交易达成于酒桌之上。

关于诚信，《小康》杂志最近的一项调查表明，农民、宗教职业者、性工作者、军人和学生被选为本年度最讲诚信的五个群体（小康杂志8月16日）。这五 个群体并非酒桌社交主流，虽然占据着社会的绝对多数，但缺乏足够支配社会资源的制度平台，加之本身工作特性抑或制度宗教等客观原因，导致他们被迫置身于江 湖式诚信体系之外，反倒成全了他们诚信的清白名声。

《小康》杂志的调查还着重提到，“49％的人对政府、人际、公司三类的信用危机表示‘都非常担心’”。很显然，这才是社会关系中的核心部分，本来应努力构建社会显性关系规则的“三类”，其诚信却颇受质疑，这或许可以成为潜规则盛行的原因。

以社会发展眼光看，个人感情至上的江湖式诚信理当为文明社会所抛弃。社会诚信体系失守，同时意味着原则政策等潜规则失灵，江湖式诚信必然打着各种幌子趁虚而入，积极上位。实际上，被请吃者往往寄望于此种途径，表面上是考察对方忠诚度，实则也是判断自己打的那些小九九的安全系数。这也就是讲，所谓的江 湖式诚信并非只是因为一时兴起，仅仅贪图那一杯杯玉琼良浆，一时的口感之快，往往更在于政策失守背后的利益勾结。引用一句老话:没有无缘无故的恨，也没有 无缘无故的爱，酒桌社交将这种爱恨演绎得如此逼真，只是晕头晕脑之时，犹如那些醉驾司机，什么原则制度只怕早就甩到耳朵背后。

A recent article on China Daily cited some findings by the International Business Center (IBC, a US-based non-profit organization) on Chinese business culture and etiquettes. According to IBC, “the general nature of locals is conservative, reserved and disciplined”, and there are “specific codes of behavior” to adhere to.

Big Social Functions

Chinese value face and make decisions collectively and over a lengthy period. There is always respect for a host and many Chinese are passionate socialites enjoying functions.

Eating First, and Business Second

“…But in China, people meet for dinner and talk about general topics first before getting down to business.”

No Talking About Politics

The IBC reminds foreigners to avoid any ostentatious or overt displays of emotion or affection and to keep social conversations safe. Talking about culture, customs, travel or food are good topics. Talking about politics is not.

Many Speeches

…the continuous volley of speeches, which occurs at many local parties.
…When toasting, the host always speaks first.

Avoid Open embarrassment

…most Chinese will not discuss their feelings when dissatisfied

Relationship Important

In China, “relationships are everything”.
Open criticisms of others or admissions of guilt threaten such relationships, so these are avoided.

The research spotted some real and visible cultural formalities and practices, and it is indeed helpful for people from other countries to know. But knowing it is one thing, using it is really another. In many cases, not knowing is perhaps better than overuse it. You will need to distinguish between the bad and the good practices before you actually use them, since not all of them you see are regarded as good practices and suitable in all occasions, such as Huaquan. The article on China Daily (surprisingly) showed a picture of a Chinese man teaches his expat friend to play Huaquan (above), but in fact it is not taken as a civilized manner by general public, and is not suitable in formal occasions.

In most cases of Chinese people meeting with foreigners, there are invisible cultural elements quietly taking its functions during such intercultural encounters: Chinese people are always trying to show their respect and hospitality to foreigners and probably through Chinese ways: you will be asked to making speeches, as a way to show respect; you will be forced, as a way of showing hospitality, to take as much as you can, the food, the drinks, and the ‘intercultural dishes’ as well. As foreigners you will never be regarded as ignorant since you are foreigners. But the fact is that with increasing number of westerners trying to know more about the business etiquettes in China, Chinese business culture has reciprocally started to have its impact on international business practices.

Note: Picture from China Daily

Ever since 1997, the BMW Group has been inviting applications for the BMW Group Award for Intercultural Learning. The Award is divided into two categories, Theory and Practice, and invites academics in many disciplines, including education, to submit qualifying papers and research projects that represent innovative approaches to the advancement of intercultural learning. Entries should be closely aligned to the basic philosophy of the LIFE concept.

In the “Theory” category, we welcome papers submitted by academic researchers anywhere in the world, in any discipline, whose degree dissertations or other types of academic research project demonstrate a new approach to the advancement of intercultural learning and, moreover, are closely aligned to the basic philosophy of the LIFE concept. We particularly welcome innovative ideas in any discipline – from architecture to economics, from agriculture to urban studies, from linguistics to medicine, from education to psychology.

In the “Practice” category, we are looking for examples of innovative projects aiming to promote a better understanding of other cultures, languages or religions that have been realised in schools or nursery schools, as part of a parents’ or neighbourhood initiative, or in any public social establishment, or in connection with extracurricular sporting or cultural activities. We would like to encourage not only private individuals, but also groups and institutions, to enter the competition and present their projects to the international jury.

Prizes will be awarded to the three best practical projects; the jury also reserves the right to award a special prize for “Intercultural commitment”. The purpose of this special prize is to reward a person displaying exceptional commitment who has constantly endeavoured to promote international understanding (e.g. in the context of several projects and initiatives) and has thus rendered outstanding service to the propagation of intercultural learning.

You can find more details on the BMW Group’s website on the Categories, Philosophy and Topics of the award. The deadlines for this year’s application is: October 15, 2007.