The Methodological Significance of General Theory of State and Law: Historical Transformations and Contemporary Debates

The article examines the methodological significance of the General Theory of State and Law within the system of legal sciences through the lens of its historical transformations and contemporary doctrinal debates. It analyses how the ideologization of legal scholarship affected the content and functions of general legal theory, and demonstrates that its value depends on its capacity to develop a conceptual framework, ensure coherence of legal reasoning, and sustain legal certainty under increasingly complex regulatory environments. The article argues that general legal theory retains an integrative function by enabling the correlation of sectoral legal constructs, standards of law enforcement, and requirements of legality, and by serving as a foundation for professional legal education oriented toward systematic interpretation, legal qualification, and responsible application of law; it also underscores the need to preserve the discipline’s status in legal education and research.