Unveiling China’s Whole-Process People’s Democracy
China’s unique form of governance, known as "whole-process people’s democracy", is a concept that often puzzles Western observers. Despite not having multiple parties or general elections in the Western sense, China’s political system emphasizes the participation and representation of its people in governance processes.
President Xi Jinping has highlighted democracy as one of the six aspirational goals for building a modern socialist country by 2049. Alongside being prosperous, strong, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful, "democratic" stands as a key tenet unswervingly upheld by the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Chinese people. According to President Xi, democracy is a shared value of humanity, used to solve the problems that people want to solve.
Expanding Political Participation
The CPC’s approach aims to expand the orderly political participation of the populace, strengthen the protection of human rights and the rule of law, and ensure that people enjoy extensive rights and freedoms in accordance with the law. This involves absorbing public opinion through feedback mechanisms, such as polling, to understand what citizens think about proposed policies—a process referred to as pooling people’s wisdom.
While China’s system does not feature Western-style elections, there is significant engagement with various constituencies. The people’s congress system is upheld and improved to effectively exercise oversight powers. Work reports presented at Party congresses every five years and at the National People’s Congress annually reflect substantial input and suggestions from officials, experts, and diverse societal groups.
Success in Poverty Alleviation
China’s success in eradicating extreme poverty showcases the effectiveness of its governance model. The CPC’s leadership and organizational capacity were instrumental in this achievement. Through initiatives like targeted poverty alleviation introduced in 2013, standardized procedures and individualized programs were implemented to lift each poor family out of poverty. Coordination across five levels of local Party secretaries—provincial, municipal, county, township, and village—ensured accurate and honest efforts, regularly evaluated by third parties.
An Alternative Perspective on Democracy
Understanding China’s whole-process people’s democracy provides insight into how the country addresses its challenges and strives for development. By focusing on inclusive participation and practical solutions, China’s model offers an alternative perspective on how democracy can function in a different cultural and political context.
Reference(s):
Whole-process people's democracy the backbone of China's society
cgtn.com
