Democracy and the Rule of Law Promote China’s Development
By LIU XIAOMEI
CHINA’S modernization has been a historical process of continuous reform and development, exploring practices such as constitutional monarchy, democratic republic, and the Soviet mode. It has experienced twists and turns and ups and downs in drawing on foreign experience of reforms, finally arriving at “the socialist road with Chinese characteristics,” the mode of modernization that takes root in Chinese soil and is marked by the birth of Deng Xiaoping Theory.
More than 30 years since the commencement of China’s reform and opening-up, China’s GDP now ranks second worldwide, and its comprehensive national strength is totally different from the years prior to reform. China’s reform and opening-up and the ensuing economic take-off are admired globally. However, economic development and reform need the support of political structure and the convoy of democracy and the rule of law. Therefore, the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee made promoting “extensive, multi-level and institutionalized development of consultative democracy” a cornerstone of socialist democratic politics. At the Fourth Plenary Session, the CPC Central Committee decided to comprehensively promote the rule of law. The building of a moderately prosperous society in all aspects is now entering a decisive stage, and reform is approaching deep waters. Under such circumstances, rethinking the role of consultative democracy and the rule of law in China’s reform, development and modernization of state governance is important in improving and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics and promoting China’s long-lasting stability and sustained development.
There is a traditional view in China that holds, “People are the foundation of a country. The country is stable only when the foundation is solid.” Another, modern nationalist state outlook proposes, “A country is formed by the people. Without people there is no country.” Whichever view people prescribe to, in China people’s understanding of the relations between a nation and its citizens is not simply reduced to either state-oriented or individual-oriented, but defined as the inter-relationship between individuals and their country, a harmonious relationship. Therefore, as long ago as the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and the Republican period (1911-1949), Chinese intellectuals and statesmen, in pursuit of national independence and prosperity, began to think about and practice democratic and political reform by unleashing “the power of the people.”
After the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, the masses became the principal body driving historical development, according to Marxist philosophy and socialism. The current Constitution declares, “All power belongs to the people.” It effectively guarantees that people enjoy extensive rights and freedoms, and allows public participation in state and social governance through basic political systems such as the people’s congress, political consultation, ethnic regional autonomy, and grassroots autonomy.
The democratic concept of “Development is for the people and relies on the people, people share the achievements of development” and the rights stipulated and guaranteed by the Constitution and laws have aroused the enthusiasm, initiative and creativity of the people, and unleashed their wisdom and abilities. Successful examples include the household contract responsibility system with remuneration linked to output, public nomination and direct election, democratic deliberation, participatory budget and public hearings.
If we say that the people are the engine of development, then democratic systems provide the fuel, and the rule of law provides a guarantee for democracy. Therefore, China’s development relies on the resolve of the people to act as a principal body, to expand democracy and promote the rule of law.
Build Consensus through Consultative Democracy
Socialist democracy, which places the people at the head of a country, means that people can decide their affairs in daily social governance. Socialist democracy with Chinese characteristics consists of two forms: One is “The people exercise their rights through elections and voting,” and the other is “Before major decisions are made, various sides conduct full consultation, and do their utmost to reach consensus on common problems.” In practice, consultative democracy has led to direct participation of the populace. It is a supplement to electoral democracy, and also expands the depth and breadth of democracy. It is conducive to seeking commonalities while reserving differences, building consensus and promoting harmonious social development. It has become the unique form and advantage of China’s socialist democratic politics.
Following the deepening of reform and development of the market economy, the relations of social interests have become complicated and pluralistic. Outdated management modes such as command and repression can no longer suit the needs of modern governance. Therefore, some local governments and social organizations actively explore forms of consultative democracy, such as legislation consultation, expert consultation, soliciting opinions from the public, public hearings, democratic deliberation, citizens’ forums and participatory budgets, as well as community discussions and forums, public opinion information stations, and collective consultation on wages. Through the populace’s participation in the process of governance, public policymaking has become more open and transparent, increasing its legality and effectiveness.
Taking the “democratic deliberation” and “participatory budget” of Wenling City in Zhejiang Province as an example, we can see how the government achieved results by first ensuring understanding and then building consensus through introducing and expanding public participation. This improved the performance of the government and was conducive to social stability and development in the region.
In June 1999, in order to strengthen and improve rural work through democratic modes, Songmen Town of Wenling City, Zhejiang Province set up the “Educational Forum on Modernized Agriculture and Rural Areas,” where local leaders and farmers could communicate face-to-face on certain specific public issues, creating a new form of consultative democracy – “democratic deliberation.” Since 2000, this dialogue mechanism has extended to more urban and rural residential communities, departments of the municipal government, non-public ownership enterprises and Communist Party organizations, winning good results and attracting extensive attention.
