The IPSAS is the youngest research institution in Academia Sinica. There are three major reasons for its establishment. As political science is an integral discipline in social sciences, any effort to boost the social sciences research in Academia Sinica requires the setting up of a research unit devoted to political science inquires. The rapid development of the ROC's democratic politics and the cross-Taiwan Strait relations further demands academic research in pressing political issues. Last but not least, the existing relevant resources in Academia Sinica can be fully mobilized for academic research in political science only with the establishment of the IPSAS.