Beijing, China / TimesNewswire / March 25, 2023 – “Democracy” has been a battle cry in world history. From the dawn of Greek civilization thousands of years ago, to modern nations proclaiming power rests on the people. But what is the true essence of democracy? In what forms, shapes and sizes does democracy thrive? Is democracy one-size-fits-all? This 30-minute CGTN special hosted by Tian Wei, “Democracy: A common value for all humanity” digs deep for answers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFr_TtGjp6A
Democracy is a combination of the ancient Greek words “demos”, meaning people, and “kratos,” meaning power or rule. While the concept of governance by the people emerged in ancient Greece, Chinese philosophers came up with the idea of governing for the people. That idea lives in the People’s Republic of China, founded in 1949, with the Chinese people being the masters of their country.
Xiao Geng from the Chinese University of Hong Kong makes the point that China’s democracy is more about substance than the formality of voting. The Chinese government now actually provides a much more comprehensive interpretation of democracy, associating it with people’s standard of living, safety and security, economic progress, and the right to survive as well as to have a good life. John Ross, a senior fellow of the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at Renmin University of China, expresses a similar view that the core of China’s democracy is about working for the good of the people. He adds that what people should look at is the outcome. And that’s what people judge it by.
When it comes to the question, “Is democracy one-size-fits-all?”, John Ross argues that in the West, the so-called formal political system is actually completely subverted. For example, the United States is controlled by money. Money is indispensable in American electoral campaigns, and it has a greater, and mostly negative influence on politics than ever before. What’s more, He said the ballot in the U.S. is not “one person, one vote” in the real sense at all.
Over the years, the concept of democracy has been constantly evolving. Einar Tangen, a senior fellow at the Taihe Institute, says there is no one kind of democracy. Western democracy emphasizes that they can change governments by voting. But changing governments, unfortunately, does not necessarily change realities.
Choosing what kind of democratic system is based on the national conditions of a country, such as its own history, culture, social and economic development. China has continuously explored and found a democratic model that not only suits its own reality but also meets the expectations of its people. All in all, a better life does not come out of a ballot box. It comes from constant practice that put people’s needs on top of everything else.
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