A different approach
China's experience demonstrates that the path to democratization can be adapted to local conditions
The West has long been promoting Western-style democratic systems globally. But from the "Arab Spring "to the "Arab Winter", and the recent series of political upheavals in African countries, it is evident that Western-style democracy often faces resistance and its shortcomings are increasingly exposed in developing countries. This demonstrates that forcibly imposing Western-style democracy often leads to outcomes contrary to the visions of peace, stability and prosperity.
Against this backdrop, China, as a country with 56 ethnic groups, a population of over 1.4 billion, a history of more than 5,000 years, and a different political system from the West, holds significant importance for democratic development. China's experience can strengthen democratic development in a multipolar world and provide new insights into the common values of humanity.
Since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, the country has undergone a unique process in democratic construction, gradually forming a socialist democracy with Chinese characteristics that suits its national conditions. First, China's democratic development has been a process of continuous exploration and reform. After its founding, China embarked on socialist reform and construction, exploring a democratic path suitable for its national conditions. Through a series of political movements and explorations, China gradually established a political system based on the people's congress system and implemented the system of the National People's Congress. Meanwhile, China also established grassroots democracy, promoting village autonomy and grassroots democratic construction, laying the foundation for China's democratic system.
Second, the construction and evolution of China's socialist democracy with Chinese characteristics are integral to China's democratic practice. China has carried out a series of reforms and explorations in political systems, citizen participation, and rule of law, continually improving and developing its democratic system. In terms of its political system, China adheres to the leadership of the Communist Party, implements the system of people's congresses, and establishes a multi-level and widely participatory political consultation system. In terms of citizen participation, China has continually expanded the channels and methods for citizen participation by establishing and improving the system of people's congress deputies at all levels and village autonomous organizations. Regarding the rule of law, China has strengthened the formulation and implementation of the Constitution and laws, established a sound legal system, and safeguarded the legitimate rights and interests of citizens and social stability.
It is no surprise that China has secured such great achievements in democratic development. First, China has made remarkable achievements in democratic development primarily manifested in political stability, social harmony and the enhancement of governance efficiency. Political stability in China is a crucial guarantee for the socialist democracy with Chinese characteristics, ensuring the long-term stability and harmonious development of the country. Second, the construction of China's democratic system is becoming increasingly mature, transitioning from consultative democracy to a system of "selection+election", from the decision-making mechanism of a "new-type democratic centralism" to various modern online political platforms. China's orderly leadership succession, the outstanding qualities and capabilities of China's governing team, and the smooth formulation and implementation of one five-year plan after another have improved the governance efficiency, achieved a transition from "rule of man" to the "rule of law", and ensured the scientific and normative governance of the country.
Furthermore, China's democratic path is becoming broader, and it actively advocates international cooperation in democratic development, contributing Chinese wisdom to the progress of human political civilization. In recent years, China has proposed initiatives such as the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, supported multilateralism and global governance, and promoted the construction of a new type of international relations through consultations, joint construction and shared benefits. This is not only a grand vision of China on the international stage but also a positive response to the significant problems and challenges facing the world today.
Therefore, China's democratic practices offer valuable insights for enhancing democratic development in a multipolar world and are relevant for other countries and regions. China's socialist democratic system with Chinese characteristics is not merely a replication of Western models but rather an innovative approach that has been developed based on China's national conditions and historical-cultural background. China's system fully respects the people's central role, achieving broad and deep citizen participation in political decision-making through mechanisms such as the system of people's congress deputies at all levels and grassroots democratic elections. Moreover, China actively promotes the rule of law, enhancing judicial independence and fairness to safeguard citizens' rights and freedoms. This system not only ensures political stability but also emphasizes social justice and citizen participation, providing a new approach to democratic development for other countries.
China's local democratic practices also offer a beneficial framework for other countries and regions. Particularly for countries with diverse cultures, ethnicities and extensive territories, borrowing from China's practices such as village autonomy can promote local-level democratic participation and autonomy, better meeting the needs of local residents. China's experiences in utilizing technology to promote democratic participation are also relevant for other countries. For example, China's online platforms for citizen participation and e-government facilitate interaction between the government and the public, encouraging broader participation in political decision-making.
In today's multipolar world, Western-style democracy is neither the only nor the inevitable path for democratic development. China's successful democratic practices challenge the inherent notion that only Western democracy is genuine democracy. Although democracy originated in the West, it does not mean that other regions cannot develop democratic systems tailored to their own national conditions. China's experience demonstrates that the path to democratization can be adapted to local conditions, utilizing methods and approaches that suit the country's actual situation. Countries should learn from and borrow from each other, continuously improving their own democratic systems. China's democratic practices offer a reference framework for other countries, especially those in the process of developing democratic systems. By learning from China's experience, other countries can better address the challenges they encounter in democratic development, explore democratic development paths suitable for their own national conditions, promote consensus and practices of global democratic development, and advance the realization of shared human values.
The author is an Egyptian sinologist and director of the Confucius Institute at the Suez Canal University. The author contributed this article to China Watch, a think tank powered by China Daily.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
Contact the editor at editor@chinawatch.cn.
