The People\u2019s Republic of China (PRC) has upended the 21st century in many significant respects. One of these game-changing upsets has been in the conceptualization and practice of \u201cdemocracy\u201d. The PRC has concretely demonstrated that democratic values and institutions can be singularly associated with China in its long march towards whole people\u2019s empowerment and representativity
\nChina has revolutionized understandings on democracy with the term \u201cwhole-process people\u2019s democracy\u201d. It is a concept put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2019 during a tour in Shanghai. It defines China\u2019s political system as one which empowers the people to get involved in the country\u2019s decision-making and governance at all levels.
\nWhole-process people\u2019s democracy is centred on people as a whole and the pursuit of their common welfare without discrimination based on ideology, class, geography, ethnicity. This objective has motivated CPC to remain the vanguard of all people in China in advancing their political economic and social agenda.
\nThis differs to western notions of democracy whereby the political agenda is defined mainly by the winning party in the elections. Cumulatively, this has eroded ordinary people\u2019s genuine participation in matters that affect their lives and instead, the agenda is influenced disproportionately by powerful lobbyists, corporate interest and controlling influencers.
\nHence in the PRC, the voices of the people across the board are taken factored in, not only during electoral process, but people\u2019s power is exercised throughout through the National People\u2019s Congress at county and township levels.
\nThis has the immediate result of including, in the direct representative democratic process, the voices and aspirations of 1.4 billion people. In order to avoid the process from being unduly influenced by a few individuals or lobby groups, or an oligarchy, Chinese elections are wholly funded by the national state treasury.
\nWhole-process people\u2019s democracy is designed and practiced to ensure ultimately, people are included in decision-making not only during electoral campaigning and voting. People are not only left with empty electoral promises but are able to monitor the implementation of these ballot promises in the National People\u2019s Congress whereby they participate in policy decisions, in governance matters and regular decision-making.
\nChina is uncompromising that public leaders must serve and priorities national interests. The very function of Chinese state institutions is to be accountable and responsive, at all levels, to the citizens\u2019 needs and concerns.
\nIn addition, public opinions and inputs are solicited in whatever laws and legislation is drafted so that there is meaningful public participation and democratic decision-making.
\nAn upshot of this is to safeguard human rights of everyone as seen recently with the achievement of the eradication of absolute poverty in China.
\nThis people-led Chinese democracy is closely linked to realization of good governance or effective service delivery of public goods. The CPC has achieved this rare feat of delivering for its various citizens and diverse communities – common goods – in basic and advanced education, healthcare, infrastructure, employment, and safety.
\nThis consistency, in policy and programmatic orientation, is unprecedented when factoring that the pursuit of common goods, in other countries, has tended to suffer from changes in political administrations.
\nThe word \u201cgovernance\u201d, using a definition from the 2015 World Public Service Report, \u201crefers to steering. Steering, for example a ship, is not only a matter of keeping the ship afloat and in a forward, backward or sideways motion\u201d. Most importantly, \u201cit strongly demands knowledge of the direction and ensuring that the ship is constantly on course in that direction\u201d. Ensuring that the ship is on course, has enabled the CPC to deliver the historical achievements, for its citizens and communities, that are the envy of the entire world.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The People\u2019s Republic of China (PRC) has upended the 21st century in many significant respects. One of these game-changing upsets has been in the conceptualization and practice of \u201cdemocracy\u201d. The PRC has concretely demonstrated that democratic values and institutions can be singularly associated with China in its long march towards whole people\u2019s empowerment and representativity […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":262623,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-262618","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n