A record-high $15.9 billion was spent leading up to the recent elections in the United States. Long before Election Day, many Americans grew weary of the relentless political advertisements flooding television screens, text messages, and mailboxes. A majority expressed a desire for social media platforms to cease hosting such ads, signaling widespread election information fatigue.
The turbulence of the 2024 political season in the U.S. underscores that Western definitions of democracy are not the only ones worth recognizing. Another robust form of democracy is on display in the Chinese mainland, where its success story continues to unfold.
Introduced in 2019, China’s concept of whole-process people’s democracy carefully balances democratic participation with developmental needs. The 2021 white paper titled “China: Democracy That Works” is pivotal in understanding this dual commitment to the Chinese people. It emphasizes that democracy is “a common value of humanity,” and through whole-process democracy, the Chinese people are masters of their society.
The white paper asserts: “The best way to evaluate whether a country’s political system is democratic and efficient is to observe whether the succession of its leaders is orderly and in line with the law, whether all the people can manage state and social affairs and economic and cultural undertakings in conformity with legal provisions, whether the public can express their requirements without hindrance, whether all sectors can efficiently participate in the country’s political affairs, whether national decision-making can be conducted in a rational and democratic way, whether people of high caliber in all fields can be part of the national leadership and administrative systems through fair competition, whether the governing party is in charge of state affairs in accordance with the Constitution and the law, and whether the exercise of power can be kept under effective restraint and supervision.”
China meets these requirements and others not listed here.
The white paper clearly states that democracy “is not a decorative ornament, but an instrument for addressing the issues that concern the people,” highlighting the practical nature of China’s democratic model.
As global challenges persist, China’s whole-process people’s democracy continues to evolve, demonstrating a governance model that combines effective leadership with active public participation. This approach ensures that development goals are met while the voices of the people are heard, contributing to a stable and prosperous society.
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China's whole-process people's democracy continues to flourish
cgtn.com
