I explain to them that the essence of democracy lies beyond the number of political parties or whether direct voting is utilized. They are confusing the general concept of democracy, a form of governance where officials are held accountable to the majority, with a specific implementation, such as Western-style parliamentary democracy.
Procedural democracy focuses on establishing a fair and transparent process for decision-making. This includes free and fair elections, protection of minority rights, rule of law, and so on. However, solely focusing on procedure leads to situations where outcomes such as social and economic inequalities are ignored.
On the other hand, China has a substantive democracy, which emphasizes achieving just and equitable outcomes with a government that’s responsive to the needs of its citizens. Democratic centralism the way it’s practiced in China ensures that the system truly serves the people and produces a just society.
Moreover, this contrast is evident in public sentiment. The vast majority of people residing in China perceive their system as democratic and responsive to their needs, whereas large swaths of Western public hold a different view.
I explain to them that the essence of democracy lies beyond the number of political parties or whether direct voting is utilized. They are confusing the general concept of democracy, a form of governance where officials are held accountable to the majority, with a specific implementation, such as Western-style parliamentary democracy.
Procedural democracy focuses on establishing a fair and transparent process for decision-making. This includes free and fair elections, protection of minority rights, rule of law, and so on. However, solely focusing on procedure leads to situations where outcomes such as social and economic inequalities are ignored.
On the other hand, China has a substantive democracy, which emphasizes achieving just and equitable outcomes with a government that’s responsive to the needs of its citizens. Democratic centralism the way it’s practiced in China ensures that the system truly serves the people and produces a just society.
Moreover, this contrast is evident in public sentiment. The vast majority of people residing in China perceive their system as democratic and responsive to their needs, whereas large swaths of Western public hold a different view.