How to describe China’s model of democracy? Take Linhuan Town in Huaibei, Anhui Province for example. Tea-drinking tradition has passed down the generations for six centuries in Linhuan, where people used to “discuss issues over tea.” But today the teahouses have transformed into “the people’s congress delegates’ consultation rooms” where delegates at the county and township levels talk to members of the electorate monthly on the consultation day.
Over the past five years, issues of common concern to the public such as road building and street lamp repairs were all addressed through the “discuss issues over tea” mechanism. Report shows that each teahouse has a mediation room designated for the resolution of disputes in the people’s daily lives. In recent years, teahouse mediators across the Linhuan Town have mediated over 1,500 disputes, achieving a success rate of 95 percent.
60-year-old resident Liu Jinhua in Linhuan said that, “in the teahouse, we feel free to say whatever is on our minds.” Zhang Yunxiao, a senior resident in his 70s, said he felt his voice had mattered when his suggestions were taken. Grassroot participation in politics is more of a political-culture tradition than a lifestyle.
This kind of direct participation of ordinary people could also be seen on the national level. For instance, an estimate of 1.018 million pieces of advice were received through online channels before proposals were made on formulating the 14th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development. Opinions and suggestions gathered were of great importance to finalize the “proposals.” People participated extensively in the whole decision-making process.
Chinese President Xi Jinping once said that “under China’s socialist system, whenever a problem occurs, those concerned should always hold deliberations in good faith. Matters involving many people are discussed by all those involved; to reach the greatest common ground based on the wishes and needs of the whole of society is the essence of people’s democracy.”
This, among the different types of democracies in the world, is what is known as “participatory democracy” where the main participants of political decisions are the people rather than political parties and their representatives. In China, it is required that the decision-making process can be initiated only when consensus is reached on a matter through consultation.
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