In this paper, I make a case for comparative political theory in two related ways. First, I suggest that this nascent field is ripe for development as it offers the methodological tools that could transform the focus of political theory. Second, I propose that the implications of comparative political theory are particularly significant for political theory in Africa and South Africa. This I argue is underpinned by the goal of comparative political theory to encourage high quality scholarly work from both western and non-western traditions in political thought, implementable both in research and teaching objectives. In the current context of crisis in higher education in South Africa, where calls for the decolonization of the curriculum are urgent and pressing demands, the history of political thought is particularly useful in rethinking central political concerns in Africa: the role of political institutions and the place of liberal ideas in justifications of colonialism.