Forty Years of Development of Chinese Political Science: History, Challenges and Prospects

A discipline is a set of knowledge systems and approaches that are adopted to understand the world. Disciplinary research is an indispensable part of discipline development. The year of 2018 is the fortieth anniversary of reform and opening up, and it is also the fortieth anniversary of the restoration and development of Chinese political science. After 40 years of reconstruction, exploration and advancement, Chinese political science has made remarkable achievements. This article attempts to divide the development of Chinese political science into three stages since 1978: the stage of restoration and adjustment (1978−1992), the stage of comprehensive development (1992−2012), and the stage of deepened development (2012-present). We examine the discipline’s achievements and struggles at each stage, and on this basis, summarize the evolution trend and unique characteristics of Chinese political science. It is undeniable that there are still many development deficiencies and challenges faced by the discipline. Regarding " where Chinese political science is headed”, scholars hold different positions and viewpoints. This article argues that " westernization” and " localization”, " scientificization” and " methodological pluralism” are not zero sums, but nested streams that can reconcile, coexist, and even enrich each other.