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The Failure of China’s Democratic Reforms
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Artikel-Nr:
9780739170892
Veröffentl:
2011
Seiten:
195
Autor:
Zaijun Yuan
Serie:
Challenges Facing Chinese Political Development
eBook Typ:
EPUB
Kopierschutz:
Adobe DRM [Hard-DRM]
Sprache:
Englisch
Beschreibung:
In its propaganda, the Chinese Communist Party does not deny the value of ';democracy', but it insists that democracy in China can be only ';socialist democracy with Chinese characteristics'. The most essential nature of such ';democracy' is that it is under the single-party system and it excludes multi-party politics and competitive elections. In recent years, ';Chinese democracy' has won more support because of achievements the party has made in developing economy. This raises a question: does this ';efficient' authoritarian political system in China, even if it is not democratic, deserve applause because it can facilitate economic development? The party also insists that it is ';democratic'. But, is the partys theory of ';democracy' compatible with western democracy?Since 1998, the party has organized some political reforms, such as ';direct elections' for township executives, ';direct elections' for township party secretaries, township party congress reform and ';deliberative democracy' experiments, while maintaining single-party politics. In the partys propaganda, some of these reforms have become party achievements in improving ';socialist democracy with Chinese characteristics'. In addition to these four kinds of party-organized reforms, another ';reform' originated from the grassroots, the participation of independent candidates in a few local peoples congress elections. This book examines these five local political reforms. It demonstrates that the four reforms instigated and organized by the party were tightly controlled and manipulated by the party. Although some reform measures may possibly liberalize parts of Chinas political mechanism, it is highly unlikely that the four reforms will eventually lead to political democratization in China. In the fifth ';reform', which was motivated from outside the bureaucratic system, the party took drastic measures to repress the political participation of grassroots power. As a result, nearly all independent candidates in the local peoples congress elections failed in their attempts to gain office. The prospects for this ';reform' are also poor. The book argues that all five reforms have failed and that none will lead to China's democratization in the near future. The book concludes that the party's authoritarian regime in China is by nature anti-democratic and that so-called ';socialist democracy with Chinese characteristics' is not democratic.
In its propaganda, the Chinese Communist Party does not deny the value of “democracy”, but it insists that democracy in China can be only “socialist democracy with Chinese characteristics”. The most essential nature of such “democracy” is that it is under the single-party system and it excludes multi-party politics and competitive elections. In recent years, “Chinese democracy” has won more support because of achievements the party has made in developing economy. This raises a question: does this “efficient” authoritarian political system in China, even if it is not democratic, deserve applause because it can facilitate economic development? The party also insists that it is “democratic”. But, is the party's theory of “democracy” compatible with western democracy?
Since 1998, the party has organized some political reforms, such as “direct elections” for township executives, “direct elections” for township party secretaries, township party congress reform and “deliberative democracy” experiments, while maintaining single-party politics. In the party's propaganda, some of these reforms have become party achievements in improving “socialist democracy with Chinese characteristics”. In addition to these four kinds of party-organized reforms, another “reform” originated from the grassroots, the participation of independent candidates in a few local people's congress elections.
This book examines these five local political reforms. It demonstrates that the four reforms instigated and organized by the party were tightly controlled and manipulated by the party. Although some reform measures may possibly liberalize parts of China's political mechanism, it is highly unlikely that the four reforms will eventually lead to political democratization in China. In the fifth “reform”, which was motivated from outside the bureaucratic system, the party took drastic measures to repress the political participation of grassroots power. As a result, nearly all independent candidates in the local people's congress elections failed in their attempts to gain office. The prospects for this “reform” are also poor. The book argues that all five reforms have failed and that none will lead to China’s democratization in the near future. The book concludes that the party’s authoritarian regime in China is by nature anti-democratic and that so-called “socialist democracy with Chinese characteristics” is not democratic.
Since 1998, the party has organized some political reforms, such as “direct elections” for township executives, “direct elections” for township party secretaries, township party congress reform and “deliberative democracy” experiments, while maintaining single-party politics. In the party's propaganda, some of these reforms have become party achievements in improving “socialist democracy with Chinese characteristics”. In addition to these four kinds of party-organized reforms, another “reform” originated from the grassroots, the participation of independent candidates in a few local people's congress elections.
This book examines these five local political reforms. It demonstrates that the four reforms instigated and organized by the party were tightly controlled and manipulated by the party. Although some reform measures may possibly liberalize parts of China's political mechanism, it is highly unlikely that the four reforms will eventually lead to political democratization in China. In the fifth “reform”, which was motivated from outside the bureaucratic system, the party took drastic measures to repress the political participation of grassroots power. As a result, nearly all independent candidates in the local people's congress elections failed in their attempts to gain office. The prospects for this “reform” are also poor. The book argues that all five reforms have failed and that none will lead to China’s democratization in the near future. The book concludes that the party’s authoritarian regime in China is by nature anti-democratic and that so-called “socialist democracy with Chinese characteristics” is not democratic.
1 Contents
2 Tables and Figures
3 Foreword
4 Preface
5 Acknowledgments
Chapter 6 Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 7 Chapter 2: "Direct Elections" for Township Executives
Chapter 8 Chapter 3: "Inner-Party Democracy" and the Experiments of Direct Elections for Township Party Secretaries
Chapter 9 Chapter 4: Another Form of "Inner-Party Democracy": The Party Congress Reform
Chapter 10 Chapter 5: The Experiments with "Deliberative Democracy"
Chapter 11 Chapter 6: A Reform Instrigated from the Outside of the Bureaucratic System: Independent Candidates in China's Local Congress Elections
Chapter 12 Conclusion
13 Bibliography
14 Index
15 About the Author
2 Tables and Figures
3 Foreword
4 Preface
5 Acknowledgments
Chapter 6 Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 7 Chapter 2: "Direct Elections" for Township Executives
Chapter 8 Chapter 3: "Inner-Party Democracy" and the Experiments of Direct Elections for Township Party Secretaries
Chapter 9 Chapter 4: Another Form of "Inner-Party Democracy": The Party Congress Reform
Chapter 10 Chapter 5: The Experiments with "Deliberative Democracy"
Chapter 11 Chapter 6: A Reform Instrigated from the Outside of the Bureaucratic System: Independent Candidates in China's Local Congress Elections
Chapter 12 Conclusion
13 Bibliography
14 Index
15 About the Author