中国百万文科学者，为生存抢破头

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the challenges faced by humanities scholars in China regarding the publication of papers in top-tier journals (C journals), highlighting the imbalance between the increasing number of scholars and the decreasing availability of publication opportunities [1][4][21]. Group 1: Publication Challenges - The number of humanities scholars has increased significantly from 501,000 in 2013 to 979,000 in 2023, while the number of published papers in C journals has decreased from 92,100 to 74,100 over the same period, representing a nearly 20% decline [2][4]. - The competition for publication in C journals is intense, with many scholars waiting for extended periods for their papers to be reviewed, often leading to multiple revisions and eventual rejections [7][10]. - A significant portion of C journal publications is dominated by a small number of high-ranking institutions, with top universities accounting for 59% of publications despite representing only 10% of all universities [8][10]. Group 2: Academic Pressure and Career Implications - Many universities have adopted a "non-promotion means departure" policy, putting immense pressure on young scholars to publish in C journals within a limited timeframe, often leading to high levels of anxiety and burnout [14][18]. - The average research cycle for major funding projects, such as the National Social Science Fund, is lengthy, averaging 6.38 years, with less than 50% achieving favorable outcomes, further complicating the publication landscape for humanities scholars [15][18]. - The pressure to publish has led some scholars to resort to "quick and easy" research topics, compromising the quality of their work in order to meet publication quotas [18][21].