Abstract:

Contemporary Chinese political research usually adopts three basic methods of field investigation, theoretical creation and practical participation, which respectively correspond to the life logic, theoretical logic and practical logic in political functioning. Field investigation has become an important approach to "understanding Chinese politics" and promoting the localization of contemporary Chinese political research. Meanwhile, the new perspective of theoretical field besides empirical field marks the self-awareness and transition of the methodology in Chinese political research. To study Chinese experience itself, we should not only consciously focus upon China, but also continuously promote experience based on field research, as well as perfect and improve the research through the interaction between experience, theory and practice. The popular paradigms at home and abroad, including "authoritarianism" and "a developmental country", fail to explain Chinese experience and Chinese political development, so we still need a theoretical paradigm more appropriate to Chinese experience and practice.

Key words: Chinese politics, field experience, theoretical paradigm, methodology