The political thoughts of Confucianism are benevolent politics, kingship and ritual system, and the ideals are great harmony and great unity. Its political science mainly expounds the relationship between monarch and minister and the relationship between officials and people. Confucius said that "the courtesy of the monarch and the minister is the loyalty of the minister", Mencius said that "the people are the most important, the country is the second, and the monarch is the least", and Xunzi said that "following the Tao, not following the monarch, not following the righteousness, not following the father, and the people are also popular with the people", which is a representative proposition of Confucian political science.

On practical political issues, Confucianism requires both the ruler and the ruled to assume obligations. Theoretically speaking, the ruled has the right to resist the ruler who is not normally obligated. "Good governance" advocates distinguishing between "can't" and "don't do", that is, the difference between "can't" and "don't do". And its "no constant production, no perseverance" also embodies the people-oriented thought.

In international politics, Confucianism advocates "the distinction between Chinese and foreigners." In ancient times, the distinction between China people and foreigners promoted the spread of advanced culture in the Central Plains, but in modern times it became an obstacle to China's modernization.