中國大陸自一九七八年實施改革開放政策以來，整體國力雖然呈現巨幅的成長，然而仍有許多因素不斷地制約著其進一步的國家發展。本文以探討當今中國大陸所具有的城鄉差距、貧富差距、東西差距所成的「三差問題」為基礎，一方面呈現「三差問題」的發展緣由及其特性，另一方面也探討其對當今中國國家發展的挑戰，並以此議題來說明國家發展課題所及的跨學科等質。 本文認為，「三差問題」對當代中國國家發展的挑戰，主要在於三個方面：(一)如何估因「三差問題」所衍生的各種社會風險以及由此而伴生的政治危機；(二)如何調整國家與社會關係以有效協調因不均衡發展所產生的各項矛盾；(三)如何改革並重建一個新的法治規範制度以有效化解各項衝突的紛爭。並以此為結論，認為「三差問題」不僅僅代表著中在城鄉、貧富與東西之間的三個面向上，具有著經濟與社會的重大落差存在，亦顯示在整體國家發展過程，存在於政治、經濟、社會、法律層面乃至於整體國家的制度建設所具有的矛盾與衝突現象。

Though mainland China has enjoyed a rapid progress since the initation of “Reform and Open Policy” in 1978, there are still lots of obstacles hindering her from further developments. This paper devotes itself to the discussion of the so called “three disparities,” an issue that has attracted attention. “The three disparities” refers to the gap between city and country, between rich and poor, and between rich and poor, and between east and west. I will explain the characteristics and the origin of “the three disparities,” and examine how such an issue can be significant to China studies, and especially to the topic of national development. The paper considers that “the three disparities” is a challenge to mainland China’s current development in three main aspects: (1) how to assess social problems and political crises caused by such disparities; (2) how to negotiate the relationship between the nation as a whole and various societies so as to eliminate conflicts arising from uneven developments; (3) how to reform and reestablish a new system of law of prevent and to solve various possible conflicts. In conclude that “the three disparities” does not simply represent the gaps that exist between the three sets of binary opposites above mentioned, it also signifies the drastic discrepancy between current economic development and social development. Such a discrepancy generates conflicts which can problematic political, economical, social, legal aspects, as well as the overall development of mainland China. It is thus and important issue which cannot be overlooked.