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Abstract. This article presents an account of Samuel E. Finer's seminal – and widely praised – study entitled The History of Government, Volumes I–III. It is argued that the Finer's magnum opus presents a continuation of the traditional British approach to the study of political science as a more – though not exclusively – ideographic discipline; one more akin to the humanities than the natural sciences. Following a discussion of Finer's place within the history of the discipline of political science, S. E. Finer's contribution to political science is presented. It is argued that The History of Government can be seen as a continuation of Finer's lifetime preoccupation with comparative government as an object of study that transcends the traditional – largely positivist – approach to the social sciences. Finally, it is suggested that Finer's approach points towards a post‐positivist turn in political science, and that his contribution, and the results he produces, necessitates a re‐thinking of the current – Americanised – approach to the study of government.

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