Chinese model shows way
BEIJING: As crises and chaos swamp Western liberal democracy, it may be instructive to examine the “Chinese democracy” to see how the system that sets the current standards for development and progress measures up.
The 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) is a good chance to analyse the unique socialist organisation.
Every five years CPC delegates meet to draw up the strategy for the party and country in the lustrum to come.
This year, the primary objective is “Xiaokang”, the first centenary goal.
Three years into the future, the establishment of a moderately prosperous society in 2020 will be the culmination of 100 years of work by the CPC. The second century goal to mark the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949 will see the fulfilment of the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation.
The CPC consulted with eight other non-communist parties and prominent figures without party affiliation in August to canvass opinion and advice on a draft report to the congress. This institutional consultation is just one of the ways the CPC ensures democratic decision-making. This CPC-led multiparty co-operation and consultation, an entirely new type of political system inaugurated in 1949, is very different from two-party, multiparty and one-party systems in the West.
Unlike competitive, confrontational Western politics, the CPC and non-communist parties co-operate to advance socialism and to improve people’s standards of living. The relationship maintains political stability, social harmony and ensures efficient policy making.
As the leading party, the CPC takes advice from other parties on major policies, plans and laws and allowing members of other parties to hold official posts.
Institutionalised consultative democracy is important in China. The Chinese system leads to social unity rather than divisions – a consequence of the adversarial nature of Western democracy today. Political backbiting, bickering and policy reversals – the hallmarks of liberal democracy – have retarded economic and social progress.
In Western parliamentary or presidential politics, parties obtain their legitimacy through ballot boxes, causing frequent regime change and often a complete about-face in policy. What progress has been made is often lost and inefficiency reigns.
At 96 years old, the CPC with 89 million members represents the interests of the majority of the people and is dedicated to serving the people, with people-centred development.
As parties in the West increasingly represent special interest groups and social strata, capitalist democracy becomes more oligarchic in nature. The cracks are beginning to show, with many unexpected results in recent polls.
Under the leadership of a sober-minded, forward-looking CPC, Chinese-style democracy has never been healthier and China has no need to import the failing party political systems of other countries.
After several hundred years, the Western model is showing its age. It is high time for profound reflection on the ills of a doddering democracy that precipitated so many of the world’s ills and solved so few. If Western democracy is not to collapse completely it must be revitalised, reappraised and rebooted.
The CPC has led the nation to unparalleled growth and staggering achievements, particularly in the reduction of poverty – a transformational miracle, bringing prosperity and optimism unimaginable a mere four decades ago.
After five years of intensive reform, an unprecedented anti-corruption campaign, and the maturation of rule of law, a confident CPC is set to keep the country on the right course.
See Leader Page 8