China Promotes 'People's Democracy' Narrative

The concept of "whole-process people's democracy" was first publicly introduced by Chinese President Xi Jinping on November 2, 2019, during a visit to a residential community's civic center in Shanghai. This model is defined by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) as a system that integrates democratic elections, consultations, decision-making, management, and oversight to reflect the people's will and solve their problems. It is presented as a superior alternative to Western liberal democracies, which are often criticized in state media for being dysfunctional and creating social division. The "Two Sessions," the annual meetings of the National People's Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), are showcased as a prime example of this model in action. Nearly 3,000 NPC deputies and over 2,100 CPPCC members convene to deliberate on national policies. These representatives come from various walks of life, and the government emphasizes that even the smallest ethnic minority groups have at least one representative. One concrete example of this system is the grassroots "legislative liaison station" in Shanghai's Hongqiao subdistrict. Established in 2015, this was the first of its kind in China and allows residents to provide direct input on draft laws. As of September 2024, the station had collected 4,984 suggestions on 109 draft laws, with 408 of those suggestions being adopted. The upcoming "Two Sessions" in March 2026 are particularly significant as they will set the stage for China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030). Key priorities are expected to include advancing "New Quality Productive Forces," a term that encompasses a shift towards high-tech and innovative industries. There will also be a strong focus on technological self-reliance, economic security, and measures to boost domestic demand. President Xi Jinping has stated that "democracy is not an ornament to be used for decoration; it is to be used to solve the problems that the people want to solve." He has also argued against using a single yardstick to measure political systems, stating that whether a country is democratic depends on "whether its people are really the masters of the country." Critics and international observers, however, view "whole-process people's democracy" as a rebranding of authoritarian rule. They argue that while mechanisms for public consultation exist, they are tightly controlled by the CCP and do not allow for genuine political opposition or dissent. These forums are seen as a way to refine governance and legitimize one-party rule rather than accommodate true political pluralism. The promotion of this narrative internationally is seen as an effort to challenge the dominance of liberal democracy, particularly in the Global South. By presenting its model as an effective and stable alternative, China aims to gain legitimacy for its political system on the world stage. Under Xi Jinping, China's political system has become increasingly centralized, moving away from a collective leadership model. This concentration of power is seen by some as a way to enforce discipline and efficiency, but it has also reduced space for policy experimentation and differing viewpoints within the party.