Whole-process people's democracy: Contributing Chinese wisdom to the global community

On November 2, 2019, during his inspection of the grassroots legislative liaison point in Hongqiao Street, Changning District, Shanghai, Chinese President Xi Jinping first proposed the concept of "whole-process people's democracy". Later, on July 1, 2021, in his speech commemorating the centenary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, Xi emphasized the need to practice a people-centered philosophy of development and develop whole-process people's democracy. This concept not only provides new intellectual guidance for accelerating the modernization of social governance but also showcases to the world the “Chinese model” and “Chinese confidence” in democracy.

Another pathway for developing countries

In contrast, Western countries, led by the United States, which proclaim themselves as exemplars of the “democratic world,” have long exported “democratic values” and narrowly defined democracy as “one person, one vote,” insisting that other countries adopt the US-led political system and model of democracy. However, political systems within the Western world vary significantly, even among the UK’s constitutional monarchy, Switzerland's directorial republic, and the US’ republic system, there are fundamental differences in institutional design and operational mechanisms. Furthermore, under the unique Electoral College system in the US, the president is not directly elected by the voters. The real motive behind its coercion of other countries to implement “universal suffrage” is to export populism and nationalism to overthrow governments that are viewed unfavorably by the US. Moreover, the US has even resorted to assassinating foreign political figures that threaten its interests, an act that hardly aligns with “democracy” or “human rights.”

It is undeniable that the US political system and social governance model have played a role in fostering technological innovation and stimulating market vitality at certain historical stages. However, recent events like the storming of Capitol Hill have exposed the failures in US social governance, revealing deeply ingrained social conflicts that have erupted after long political stagnation. The US governance model, built on a unique geopolitical environment and foundational history of North America, if applied rigidly to developing countries, especially those at early stages of development, often results in severe social unrest, as evidenced in Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Africa, among others.

In contrast, China, with its 5,000-year history of civilization, has been exploring models of good governance since the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. Since the establishment of the People’s Republic of China, the country has gradually developed a governance model suited to its history, culture, and societal needs, traveling a development path in just over 70 years that took Europe and America centuries, transitioning from an agricultural to an industrial and then to an information society. Throughout its rise from a state of impoverishment, China has accumulated extensive experience in social governance, offering an alternative model to Western hegemonism.

Exploring innovative pathways for Whole-Process People's Democracy

Following the significant concept of whole-process people’s democracy proposed by Xi Jinping, regions across China have actively explored innovative pathways for this governance model, tailoring it to local characteristics and introducing relevant scenarios and models. For instance, Xiamen established the Gulangyu Town Hall Meeting mechanism, creating a vital platform for gathering public opinion, negotiating affairs, and solving problems, thereby providing a channel for diverse demands and fostering a democratic and united atmosphere. Additionally, in the first half of 2022, Nanjing conducted a series of activities pooling public opinion on topics such as pandemic prevention and consumption upgrading under the joint endeavor of the publicity department, the cyberspace bureau, and the press and media group, inviting citizens to participate in offline roundtables to witness the implementation of related proposals.

The innovative social governance measures in Xiamen and Nanjing not only embody the lofty political ideal of the Chinese people being the masters of their country but also reflect China’s continual exploration of a “co-constructed and co-governed” social governance model with extensive public participation, thus realizing a genuinely effective democratic approach. According to a survey by Harvard University, the approval rating of Chinese citizens for their government is 93.1%, in stark contrast to just 25% of Americans satisfied with the current Biden administration.

This stark contrast also results from the different social governance models employed by the two countries during the pandemic. The CPC and the Chinese government have always adhered to the principles of “life first” and “people first,” in sharp contrast to the US approach of disregarding the health and lives of ordinary people for short-term economic gains and the interests of large conglomerates. Democracy should be a dynamic, interactive process involving the government, businesses, and the public. A healthy social atmosphere and sustainable social governance require effective communication and cooperation among all three stakeholders. Simply equating democracy with voting or even socially disruptive protests is both a misinterpretation of the essence of democracy and a failure of social governance.

Showcasing a credible, lovable, and respectable image of China through Whole-Process People's Democracy

China's innovative developments in social governance, which are concrete manifestations of the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity, play a significant role in improving the lives of the populace and demonstrating the superiority of Chinese-style socialism. The valuable experience accumulated through the practice of whole-process people's democracy in China constitutes an important contribution to the world, reinforcing China’s confidence in its path, and presenting a credible, lovable, and respectable image of China.

China's vast territory and the diverse natural and social environments of its provinces and cities provide an advantage in exploring social governance models. The diverse methods and solutions summarized in this process offer valuable lessons for different developing countries. For example, the innovative governance models of Xiamen and Nanjing can be applied to large cities and densely populated areas in developing countries. Deepening cooperation in social governance with developing countries through national, provincial, and city-level platforms and mechanisms, as well as international organizations, is an effective approach for demonstrating China’s confidence in its developmental path.

Showing a credible, lovable, and respectable image of China requires not only government-level cooperation but also the participation of civil society. By compiling successful cases of social governance through enterprises, think tanks, and media organizations, and promoting these to the international community, China can enhance its soft power. Likewise, the involvement of the public and foreign friends is essential. As the direct experiencers and responders to social governance, the public can effectively contribute to societal development by contributing opinions, wisdom, and strength through whole-process people's democracy.

In summary, unlike the Western approach of imposing its system on other countries, China advocates “peace, development, cooperation, and win-win” and shares its social governance wisdom and experience with developing countries. In a political environment dominated by Western control of international discourse, it is crucial for China to let the world see the real lives of its people, presenting a comprehensive, multidimensional, and vivid image of China to the world, and the whole-process people’s democracy to the global community.

(Author: Peng Bo, Board Member of Shanghai Centre for RimPac Strategic and International Studies)