Promoting the high-quality construction of philosophy and social science laboratories in universities is of great strategic significance for realizing the transformation of social science research paradigm. Under the influence of multiple forces such as the transformation of knowledge production mode, the iteration of technical environment and the upgrading of social needs, the social science laboratories in foreign universities have experienced four stages: embryonic exploration, gradual shaping, ethical standardization and interdisciplinary development, and deep cross-integration development. They have formed referential experience in strategic positioning, organizational structure, resource mechanism, talent cultivation and open cooperation. The overall construction of social science laboratories in universities in China has made positive progress, but it still faces challenges such as homogenization of positioning and lagging governance mechanism. To speed up the construction of social science laboratories in colleges and universities in China, we should clarify the differentiated development orientation and optimize the functional structure of laboratories. Promote institutional innovation and build a governance mechanism that adapts to cross-research; improve the multi-input mechanism, enhance scientific research resilience and academic autonomy; give full play to the function of laboratory education and cultivate interdisciplinary compound talents; expand the international cooperation network and enhance the dominance of academic discourse.