1 Introduction

In 2022, the "Catalogue of Graduate Education Disciplines" added a first level discipline of "Regional Studies", which is closely related to the second level discipline of "Country and Regional Studies" under the foreign language discipline. Since the release of the "Introduction to First level Disciplines in Degree Awarding and Talent Cultivation" in 2013, the foreign language discipline has formed five major research areas, including national and regional studies. Although country and regional studies are new phenomena in foreign language disciplines, they lack clear definitions and research objects, and their relationship with language and literature is not clear. In recent years, although the foreign language community has held multiple related seminars, issues such as basic concepts, connotations, positioning, and content have not been fully discussed. The emergence of the first level discipline of "regional and country studies" has had a significant impact on the "country and region studies" of foreign language disciplines, triggering in-depth thinking in the foreign language community on its necessity, independence, participation methods, and other issues. On the basis of analyzing the complexity and diversity of foreign language disciplines, this article sorts out the content of country and regional studies in international relations disciplines, introduces the origins of history disciplines and country and regional studies, explores the necessity, differences, and legitimacy of establishing country and regional studies in foreign language disciplines, and attempts to propose the concept, connotation, positioning, and content of country and regional studies led by foreign language disciplines.

The complexity and diversity of foreign language disciplines

The complexity of foreign language disciplines is reflected in their composition of branches of different languages and diverse research content. The English name of China Foreign Studies University usually reflects the characteristics of coordinated development of multiple disciplines, such as Beijing Foreign Studies University and Shanghai Foreign Studies University, which are dedicated to cultivating versatile talents with a global perspective and professional skills. Since the 1980s, foreign language colleges have transformed into interdisciplinary and comprehensive institutions. Both comprehensive universities and foreign language universities have foreign language colleges that focus on language, literature, translation, and other research, but there are differences in their names, such as School of Foreign Studies and School of International Studies. These names are similar to the discipline of "international relations", reflecting the similarity in research objects and fields between the two.

3. National and Regional Studies in the Discipline of International Relations

The discipline of international relations belongs to the first level discipline of political science in China. Its colleges, such as the School of International Relations at Peking University and Nanjing University, mainly cultivate talents in diplomacy and foreign-related work. The disciplinary directions cover international politics, public affairs and governance, government and policy, etc. The School of International Relations at Peking University provides multi-level education from undergraduate to doctoral degrees, with majors including international politics, diplomacy, international political economy, and more. The research content of international relations is extensive, involving multiple fields such as politics, economy, law, and society, and has obvious interdisciplinary characteristics. My research interests include contemporary international relations, relations between developed countries in the United States, Europe, and Japan, relations between major powers, and relations between China and neighboring countries. Among them, the research direction under the "International Politics" major includes studies on world ethnic issues, East Asian studies, etc., with a special focus on regional studies. The study of East Asia is of great significance to China's diplomatic strategy, covering the political, economic, and international relations of Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, and Oceania, emphasizing the research on regional hotspots and major theoretical issues.

4 Historical disciplines and national and regional studies

The study of countries and regions originated in the 18th and 19th centuries, closely related to the colonial expansion of European powers, aiming to gain a deeper understanding of colonial history, culture, and social structure. After World War II, countries such as the United States formed a complete disciplinary system and became independent disciplines. Regional studies involve multiple disciplines such as political science, history, and sociology, with history playing an important role in them. Regional research centers in the United States emerged after World War I and rapidly developed after World War II, matching the United States' status as a global power. Western regional research is divided by continents, including Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, and Latin America, with more detailed research branches under each major field. The history departments of American universities coexist with regional research institutions, with the latter having teachers from different disciplinary backgrounds.

5. Country and Regional Studies in Foreign Language Disciplines: Necessity, Differences, and Legitimacy

Explored the necessity, differences, and legitimacy of conducting national and regional research in foreign language disciplines. The paper points out that foreign language disciplines should respond to the needs of the times and cultivate advanced talents with international perspectives and cross-cultural communication abilities. Scholars generally believe that it is necessary to establish national and regional studies in foreign language disciplines, which not only conforms to the development of the world pattern and China's national strategic needs, but also is an inevitable trend in the professional development of the discipline. The foreign language discipline has three major advantages in national and regional studies: multilingual, cross-cultural, and interdisciplinary, and can make unique disciplinary contributions. The paper emphasizes that country and regional studies led by foreign language disciplines should have disciplinary characteristics and connotations, reflecting their legitimacy and independence. At the same time, foreign language disciplines should strengthen theoretical construction, enhance the theoretical quality of national and regional studies, in order to demonstrate their legitimacy and independence.

6. Country and regional studies led by foreign language disciplines: concepts, connotations, positioning, and content

The establishment of the first level discipline of "regional and national studies" has brought development opportunities for foreign language disciplines, but there are problems such as disciplinary integration and interdisciplinary characteristics. The country and regional studies dominated by foreign language disciplines lack clear concepts, connotations, positioning, and research content. Country and regional studies should focus on specific countries or regions for comprehensive understanding and research, emphasizing the integration of language, culture, and international politics. Research should include both internal and external tasks, focus on building a strategic communication system, and enhance external communication capabilities. Positioned as fundamental theoretical research and practical research, serving national strategies and social needs, requiring a Chinese and global perspective. The research content is no different from other disciplines, but the theories and methods are different, including country studies and regional studies. Talent cultivation focuses on multilingual ability, cross-cultural competence, and professional knowledge, cultivating interdisciplinary talents with compound abilities. Foreign language disciplines should clarify their thinking, leverage their advantages, and contribute to the cultivation of interdisciplinary talents and academic research.

7 Conclusion

The foreign language discipline faces important opportunities in the evolution of the world landscape and the development of the times, and needs innovation to adapt to national needs and strategies. Country and regional studies are an extension of the connotation of foreign language disciplines, with complexity and diversity, and their differences should be constructed to ensure the legitimacy and independence of the discipline. This research field should have a clear concept, integrate language and culture with international politics, leverage the unique role of language, literature, and cultural studies, combine external and internal tasks, combine basic theory with practical research, and emphasize practicality and internationalization. The high-level opening up and international perspective of higher education are crucial for talent cultivation, academic research, and think tank consultation. As an interdisciplinary, country and regional studies play an important role in the "going global" of Chinese culture, the construction of the "the Belt and Road" and the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind.