The Evolution of Research Methodology for Chinese Politics in Taiwanese Academia: A Historical Review

This study examines the 70-year transformation of China studies in Taiwan's political science, from the ideological “bandit situation studies” (feiqing yanjiu) to a diversified, scientific academic field. Early Cold War-era research, characterized by anti-communist strategic analysis, shifted toward scientific “CCP studies” (Zhonggong yanjiu) following Taiwan's diplomatic setbacks in the 1970s. Since the 1990s, democratization and cross-strait exchanges have spurred methodological pluralism, incorporating advanced theoretical approaches such as new institutionalism and constructivism. The article argues that this evolution is not merely a methodological progression but an intellectual struggle reflecting Taiwan's changing political identity and the reconfiguration of its relationship with China. Ultimately, Taiwan's unique geopolitical context, where understanding China is an existential imperative, serves as the primary driver for its uniquely dynamic and innovative contribution to global China studies.