Why Historical Political Science Is a Paradigm Revolution

Prevailing political science methodologies are inadequate for theorizing the “Governance of China”,prompting the emergence of Historical Political Science (HPS).At its core is the concept of “historical ontology”,which reframes “history” from a mere epistemological tool to a distinct category of existence that fundamentally shapes political life.This approach reveals that different historical attributes produce different political systems and theories.While most existing social science theories derive from Europe's social history,China's distinct attribute as a political history (state history) necessitates its own corresponding political theories,systems,and development paths.Consequently,HPS is more than a new methodology;it constitutes a paradigm revolution.It provides the foundation for an “inward turn” in Chinese political science,offering a breakthrough for constructing an autonomous knowledge system.By advancing the “study of China's political development”,HPS also serves as a “political product”,supplying an alternative,endogenous standard for discussing China's political legitimacy.This new framework moves beyond existing paradigms to generate political theories grounded in China's own historical reality.