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Elections in the People's Republic of China

Mezinárodní vztahy, 2001-04, Vol.36 (2), p.69

ISSN: 0323-1844 ;EISSN: 2570-9429

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  • Title:
    Elections in the People's Republic of China
  • Author: Gregusová, Gabriela
  • Is Part Of: Mezinárodní vztahy, 2001-04, Vol.36 (2), p.69
  • Description:   The author analyses the historical point of departure of elections in the People's Republic of China, the present state of affairs with emphasis on elections in rural areas and the prospects of introducing free elections. In the first section she draws a comparison between the Western and Chinese concept of elections, mainly the different concept of authority and the benefits for society. She sees the Confucian idea of an ideal political system as the foundation of traditional authority in China, which stipulates that the government is to be entrusted to a small group of persons with outstanding abilities and virtues. She regards these as some of the factors, which in the history of China acted against free elections to select a government. In the second part, the author deals with the influence of Confucianism on political thinking in China and with the Confucian vision of the ideal ruler. She compares the idea of natural equality in European and Chinese history, which she considers to be of great importance for political philosophy. She analyses how and why the idea of natural equality has taken root in China several centuries before our era. From the idea of natural equality she goes over to the concept of the ideal ruler in China. She explains why she considers Menc' influence, and explores his rejection of a hereditary government and the concept of the government of the most virtuous. The author then briefly deals with the origin of parliamentarism in China and the republican era. The essay is based on the contemporary era of elections in the People's Republic of China. The author succinctly describes the method of electing the central parliament and the assemblies of people's representatives at a lower level. She underscores the way candidates are being nominated, which is the most significant reason why elections in China are undemocratic by Western criteria. In the essence of her work, the author examines three major arguments, which underscore the expectation that free elections will emerge in the People's Republic of China in the near future, as well as three arguments, which argue against this expectation. In support of free elections in the People's Republic of China she puts forward these arguments: the growth of the middle class, the need for new ideas for the solution of major problems and the development of elections in rural areas to which she devotes the greatest section of her work. In her opinion, the major argument contradicting free elections in China is the unwillingness of the Communist Party of China to share power with an opposition, the inadequate desire of middle classes to change the existing political system and weak domestic pressure on the establishment of democratic opposition parties. In conclusion the author considers the way free elections could be held in the People's Republic of China. She regards the limits of the political passiveness of the population in the economic success of the government of the Communist Party. Elections in the rural areas could have a major influence on the political system; if a larger number of persons who are not dependent on the Communist Party reach higher posts, it will not be possible to silence their demands. The author believes that a peaceful transition to free elections is likely. But this is endangered in the near future, for example, by a return of conservatives to leading positions in the state, by social unrest, which would lead to installing a totalitarian or military regime, or by the passiveness of the population if no serious crisis breaks out. The author believes that strong outside economic and political pressure will create not only economic but also political changes in China in the near future.
  • Publisher: Prague: Institute of International Relations (Prague)
  • Language: Czech
  • Identifier: ISSN: 0323-1844
    EISSN: 2570-9429
  • Source: AUTh Library subscriptions: ProQuest Central
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