Beijing, 3 Mar (ZXS) -- How can people's democracy break through the Western-style democratic development model in the whole process?

Written by Song Zhihui, Deputy Dean of School of International Studies, Sichuan University

Democracy is the common value pursuit of human society and an important symbol of the development and progress of human political civilization. In practice, democracy is not only diverse and concrete, but also constantly evolving. After long-term exploration, China has embarked on a path of socialist democratic political development suited to its own historical and cultural traditions and national conditions, and developed the democratic form of people's democracy in the whole process.

China's whole-process people's democracy provides a new reference for the national governance of all countries in the world, and also brings new enlightenment to solve the global governance deficit. The author believes that the reason why the whole process of people's democracy can break through the previous development model and logical framework of Western-style democracy lies in its own rich traditional cultural genes, and is also reflected in the specific practice of the whole process of people's democracy.

The whole process of people's democracy is the inheritance of ancient Chinese civilization

The democratic form of people's democracy in the whole process of China is the inheritance of ancient Chinese civilization. The reason why Chinese civilization has been able to maintain its continuous development for more than 5,000 years is inseparable from its openness and inclusiveness.

Chinese civilization adheres to the approach of openness and inclusiveness and advocates exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations. It is precisely under the root of open and inclusive civilization that the main body of people's democracy in the whole process is the "people", its scope is getting bigger and bigger, and its coverage is getting wider and wider, and all those who support, support and participate in the comprehensive construction of socialist modernization with Chinese characteristics and the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation belong to the category of the people, including all socialist workers, builders of the socialist cause, patriots who support socialism, patriots who support the reunification of the motherland and are committed to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Under the root nature of open and inclusive civilization, the concept and practice of people's democracy in the whole process is not based on the "binary opposition" thinking and the concept of clash of civilizations like in the West.

Tourists on the Badaling Great Wall in Beijing. Photo by Jia Tianyong

Unlike Western civilization, which is built on civil society, Chinese civilization is a civilization that is isomorphic and community-based. Unlike Western civil society, which places more emphasis on rights, personal interests first, competition, differentiation and contractual relationships, traditional Chinese society pays more attention to obligations, family-country-oriented, cooperation, integration and ethical relations, and thus Chinese civilization has formed a responsibility and ethical system of self-cultivation, family governance, peace in the world, everyone's responsibility, and dedication.

In July 2022, visitors visited the deeds of martyr Li Dazhao and others at the exhibition "The Power of Personality – The Feelings of the Chinese Communists" at the National Museum in Beijing. Photo by Guo Haipeng

From the traditional people-based ideology of "the people, nobles and kings are light" to the modern purpose of the Communist Party of China as the ruling party to "serve the people wholeheartedly", and the "whole-process people's democracy" extracted in the new era, which has both form and substance, it is all due to the root of the ethics of responsibility. The whole process and true effectiveness of people's democracy in the whole process is precisely an inevitable logic of the ethical nature of responsibility in Chinese civilization.

The whole process of people's democracy is fundamentally different from the Western democratic system

China's democracy is people's democracy, and China's rule is people's democracy, which is fundamentally different from Western democracy. The author has worked in the United States for many years, observed the whole process of Western democracy closely, and fully felt that China's democracy is very different from Western democracy.

People's democracy in the whole process has always put the people in the first place, providing new values, new concepts and new wisdom for the development of human democracy, while Western democracy has serious drawbacks. Especially in recent years, the domestic political disorder in the United States and the setback in the export of "American-style democracy" have superimposed, which has triggered Western public opinion to reflect on the state of American democracy.

From the comprehensive analysis of global media reports and international poll data, Western democracy represented by "American-style democracy" has revealed fatal flaws:

First, the interference in the election exposed the shortcomings of voting democracy. The United States has long simplified democracy to "one person, one vote" and used this as a standard to measure whether other countries' political systems are democratic, but there are serious problems in the whole process of voting democracy in the United States.

Second, the loss of control of party contention has exacerbated social fragmentation and governance failure. For a long time, the political differences and antagonisms between the Democratic Party and the Republican Party in the United States have been intensifying, and the political tribal nature has become increasingly obvious. Bipartisan hatred outweighs long-standing hatred over race and religion, and this political sectarianism poses a major threat to American democracy. Partisanship has also left voters who support different parties divided.

Third, social maladies have intensified inequality and extreme populism. In particular, the economic crisis caused by the new crown epidemic and the social tearing caused by the intensification of the general election have exacerbated the long-standing social problems in American society. Influenced by politicians inciting racial hate speech for election benefits, since the 2020 election, white supremacy racism in the United States has been rampant, racial antagonism is pervasive, and ethnic minorities such as Asians have suffered greatly. Populism has intensified and has become a major contributor to the Capitol riots. This has also forced American public opinion to reflect that populism has become a serious threat to American democracy.

In June 2022, the third in a series of hearings on the Capitol Hill riot was held on Capitol Hill. Photo by Chen Mengtong

Fourth, the export of "American-style democracy" has suffered another setback. The hasty withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan proves once again that "democratic export" is not feasible. Forcing other societies to accept democracy by force leads to political instability, conflict, and increased risks to citizen security. Success is possible only if political reform is rooted in local society and political culture.

The most striking feature of Western democracy is competitive elections, but from Aristotle to Montesquieu, it has been made clear that elections are not democratic, but characteristic of oligarchy. Western democracies are concerned only with the "elective" stage of the entire political process. A democracy characterized by multi-party competition is in fact an oligarchy in which several parties compete.

The whole process of people's democracy breaks through the previous logical framework of Western-style democracy

Democracy is not only an abstract concept with metaphysical colors, but also a concrete arrangement rooted in the social structure, historical traditions and background of a particular country.

Looking back at its history over the past 100 years, the Communist Party of China has led the people to continuously improve the democratic system, enrich democratic forms, and explore the establishment of a Chinese-style people's democratic system. The whole process of people's democracy is a full-chain, all-round and full-coverage democracy, which ensures that democracy is extensive, true and effective, and is a new practice of the CPC in constantly improving its governance of the country.

Taking consultative democracy as an example, this is an important form of people's democracy in the whole process of China's practice. China encourages the exploration and innovation of consultation forms, and has formed various channels, channels and forms such as proposals, meetings, forums, arguments, hearings, publicity, evaluation, consultation, the Internet and public opinion surveys. People hold extensive consultations on major issues of reform, development and stability, as well as issues of concern to their personal interests, before and during the implementation of decisions, and strive to find the greatest consensus among the largest number of people. The socialist consultative democracy of "having something to discuss" is deeply embedded in the whole process of China's democratic politics, enriches the form of democracy, expands the channels of democracy, deepens the connotation of democracy, and provides an institutional guarantee for the cohesion of the greatest political consensus and the wisdom of the whole society.

In August 2022, visitors visited the exhibition "Seeing the Heart of Heaven and Earth – Imagery and Imagery in the Chinese Study" at the Palace Museum in Beijing. Photo by Sheng Jiapeng

The whole process of people's democracy embodies China's unique national governance ability, breaks through the previous development model and logical framework of Western-style democracy, contributes Chinese ideas, Chinese values and Chinese solutions to the development of world democratic politics, boosts the confidence of developing countries in independent development, and expands the political development path of the vast number of non-Western countries. People's democracy in the whole process not only has distinctive Chinese characteristics, but also embodies the common values of all mankind. (End)

About the author:

Song Zhihui is a native of Chengdu, Sichuan. Researcher, Ph.D. in Economics. Deputy Secretary and Deputy Dean of the School of International Studies, Sichuan University, Executive Director of the Institute of South Asian Studies of Sichuan University (Key Research Base of Humanities and Social Sciences of the Ministry of Education), Member of the Academic Committee of the China Center for South Asian Studies (National High-end Think Tank). He has published many academic monographs such as "Anti-Poverty Research in Rural India" and "Schools and Frontier Issues of International Political Theory". He was a military observer in the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Evacuation and Director of the Chengdu Municipal Government Office in Phoenix, Arizona, USA.