「凡堅固者皆將煙消雲散」：評柯志明《番頭家：清代臺灣族群政治與熟番地權》

柯志明《番頭家》一書的出版，一方面提昇了臺灣社會科學論辯的層次，另一方面也開啟了不同學科對話的空間，具有提供一個典範給未來臺灣實證歷史研究之意義。
筆者雖然大抵上同意作者對邵式柏(1993)一書的批評與修正，但是認為作者所嚴厲質疑的「國家理性論」與「地權進化論」，有過度解釋的嫌疑。而作者提出的「歷史制度論」的取代立場，具有一些激進解構的潛能，可能會把我們引導到一個新的研究取向。
最後，筆者指出這個研究對臺灣人類學漢人研究提出了一些重要的挑戰，以前的那些靜態整合的文化觀念與狹窄孤立的社區研究，到此必須要完全摒棄。

Ka Chih-ming’s new book is a major work by an important sociologist presently working in the field of Taiwan history. The book is successful not only at the level of historical-empirical sophistication, but also at the level of theoretical engagement. Its analysis of aborigine land-right policies in mid-Qing Taiwan is the most comprehensive and most rigorous thus far. Its pointed and detailed criticism of John Shepherd’s earlier work has the potential to inspire the kind of compelling theoretical debate not seen in Taiwan for years.
Although I generally agree with Ka’s interpretation of the historical material, I believe he overstates Shepherd’s position by labeling it ’evolutionist’ and ’state-centered.’ Despite claiming his position as a combination of ’historistic’ and ’institutionist’ approaches, I find Ka’s emphasis on historical contingency will ultimately subvert any casual explanation in social analysis. This is a radical departure from positivism and could lead to a literary turn that he probably does not expect.
Finally, this book challenges the anthropological mainstream in Taiwan on several fronts. After Ka’s intervention, neither the tired assumption that community could be isolated as an unit of analysis, nor the static and holistic concept of culture shared by many anthropologists in the past can be sustained.