Abstract: This paper undertakes a comparative study of Guo Songtao and Liu Xihongps political thought . The first point that the author emphasizes is that prior to serving on diplomatic missions their critical topic of concern was what role the Chinese Scholar2officials should play in society. The second point that the author stresses is the relation between concern for the role of scholar2officials in Chinese society and their views of the West . Both men examined Western society from this perspective , and directed their attention to the relation between government officials and private citizens in Britain moreover their views of the British political system differed.

摘要： 本文是郭嵩焘和刘锡鸿政治思想的比较研究。笔者着重探讨在郭嵩焘和刘锡鸿的政治思想中最主要的问题意识是什么、这个问题意识和他们看到的西方有什么关系这类的课题。笔者想强调的是:第一,我们在他们出使之前的所有的文章中能看到他们的问题意识——"士大夫在那时的中国社会应该担负什么任务?"第二,他们从这个问题意识来观察西方社会,特别关注英国的"官"和"民"的关系。并且他们对英国政治的看法之间有思路的差别。