The Origins of Whole-Process People’s Democracy

From a theoretical standpoint, the concept of whole-process people’s democracy introduced by President Xi Jinping represents both a continuation and innovation of the ideas of proletarian democracy proposed by Marx and Engels, socialist democracy advanced by Lenin, and people’s democracy articulated by Mao Zedong. It both upholds and builds upon these democratic theories.

From an economic standpoint, China’s basic socialist economic system has always ensured that the lifelines of the national economy remain firmly in the hands of all its people. This has provided a solid economic foundation and material guarantee for ensuring that the people run the country and for the implementation of whole-process people’s democracy. Furthermore, it has fundamentally ensured that political power in China is not distributed based on personal status or wealth, but is equally shared by all citizens. It guarantees that state power serves the interests of the people rather than those of capital.

From the perspective of the evolution in the principal challenge facing Chinese society, we can see that since the dawn of the new era in 2012, the CPC Central Committee with Xi Jinping at its core has grounded itself in the new historical context. It has pursued a strategy of national rejuvenation amid global changes of a magnitude not seen in a century, fully grasped the new features and demands arising from the shift in China’s principal social challenge, and actively addressed the people’s new aspirations and expectations with regard to democracy and the rule of law. 

While working to deepen reform of Party and state institutions and modernize China’s system and capacity for governance to keep pace with the times, it has upheld and developed the foundational, basic, and important political systems for socialism with Chinese characteristics. This has enabled it to consolidate and develop the broadest possible patriotic united front, improve the system of institutions through which the people run the country, and encourage people’s orderly participation in political affairs in accordance with the law. 

Whole-process people’s democracy, as a crystallization of China’s innovative experience in developing democratic political theory, systems, and practices, fully embodies several key principles. These can be summarized as the “two inevitabilities,” the “two full embodiments,” the “two complete principles,” and the “two seamless integrations.”

The “two inevitabilities” refer to the fact that the development of whole-process people’s democracy is the inevitable result of history, theory, and practice based on the endeavors of the Chinese people in modern times; it is also an inevitable requirement for preserving the CPC’s essential nature and fulfilling its fundamental purpose.

The “two full embodiments” refer to the fact that whole-process people’s democracy fully embodies both the socialist nature of the state and the principal position of the people. As such, it serves to better represent the people’s will, protect their rights and interests, and spark their creativity. 

The “two complete principles” refer to the fact that China’s whole-process people’s democracy is based on both a complete set of institutions and procedures and complete participation in practice. 

The “two seamless integrations” refer to the fact that whole-process people’s democracy seamlessly integrates leadership by the Party with the running of the country by the people and law-based governance and with the united front and consultative democracy.

Editor: Yi Xiaowei