China’s second-ranking Communist Party official issued a terse and complete disavowal of interest in Western-style democracy on Monday, saying that China would never adopt a multiparty political system, separation of powers, a bicameral legislature or an independent judiciary.
The remarks by Wu Bangguo, the chairman of China’s parliament, established a hard line against political reform at a time when China’s leaders are notably worried about the possibility of public protests.
They also follow a public demand last December by more than 300 intellectuals and dissidents for China to abandon Communist rule and move toward a more democratic system.
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Without a single Communist Party in control, Mr. Wu argued, a nation as large as China “would be torn by strife and incapable of accomplishing anything.”
His statements echoed those of other Chinese Communist leaders, who have frequently asserted that Western-style democracy is unsuited to China.
Mr. Wu’s remarks were especially tough, however, in that he not only ruled out adopting Western-style political institutions, but he also argued that China’s one-party system was superior to the democratic model.
China, he said, would never adopt a system of “multiple parties holding office in rotation,” or hold elections without government-chosen candidates on the ballot.
China has experimented in recent years with elections at low levels of government, permitting some villagers, for example, to choose among carefully chosen candidates for minor posts.
But the government has rejected moves toward free elections, even in nongovernmental bodies like the Chinese bar association.
Mr. Wu argued on Monday that China’s system of representation already gives a voice to even the smallest ethnic minorities. In contrast, he said, the Western model of government guarantees representation only to candidates who are chosen by the majority.
What do you think of those arguments?
Also worth reading is a look at what happens to petitioners who have complaints against Chinese officials. Can a "petition system" substitute for elections, etc.?
(Cross-posted at our other blog)
Why is Western style democracy unsuited to China?
ReplyDeleteWhy is the one-party system superior to the democratic model - "China's system of representation already gives a voice to even the smallest ehthic minorities"??
Do these minorities have active input to the governing of China?
Interesting. The Chinese government has been able to pacify the democratic wants of its citizenry by delivering strong economic growth. But the current global economic crisis has resulted in less demand for China's exports, particularly in the United States. Thus, as growth declines (although is still strong), the Chinese government is worried that there might be a demand for democracy.
ReplyDeleteWhat stuck me was the claim that the Chinese model is 'superior' to Western-style democracy. Thinking in terms of growth, it is Western-style liberal economic reforms that have seen China's growth surge, not inadequate socialist central planning. Such growth has allowed the Chinese government to retain control (with the help of repression also).
Is 'China’s one-party system [...] superior to the democratic model?' Is the Communist Party really a communist party?