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ABSTRACT
This article presents and analyzes the various viewpoints shared by several representative French left wing intellectuals and by the French Communist Party (FCP) about socialist democracy with Chinese characteristics. It determines two main approaches concerning their analysis of Chinese democracy: a procedural approach and a substantive approach. The first approach stresses more the form and procedure. The second approach stresses more the content and results. One aspect that is often neglected is the nature of the state, which is determined by the relations of production, the class structure and the socio-economic basis of a given society. Therefore it leads to a misunderstanding of socialist democracy with Chinese characteristics. Indeed, democracy is not neutral, but directly related to the socio-economic basis and class nature of the state. The author believes that, even if in some aspects Chinese democracy is currently less developed than in some capitalist developed countries, it is more democratic by its orientation, objectives and nature. Socialist democracy with Chinese characteristics is a transition leading to communism. Only socialism can lead to a society profoundly democratic in all its aspects, a communist society, while it is in contradiction with the profound nature of capitalism.
Disclosure Statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.
Notes on Contributor
Peggy Raphaëlle Cantave Fuyet is PhD candidate at the School of Marxism of Renmin University of China (Beijing). Her main fields of research are the French Communist Party, Marxism in China and socialism with Chinese characteristics.
Notes
1 “Socialist” is the official term used by the CPC to describe its current socio-economic system and political orientation. Indeed, today, the Chinese government considers that China is in the first stage of socialism and in a long transition to communism (Leninist approach). However, in the Western world, China is often called “communist,” at least concerning its political orientation.
2 Alain Roux is a sinologist, retired professor from the Chinese Department of the National Institute of Oriental Languages and Civilisations (Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales [INALCO]) in Paris (France), a former member of the FCP and former supporter of the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), who turned to anti-communist. He wrote a bibliography of Mao Zedong: Le singe et le tigre. Mao, un destin chinois [The monkey and the tiger: Mao, a Chinese destiny] in Citation2009. Its Chinese version (⟪毛泽东: 雄关漫道⟫) was also published by Renmin University of China Press in Citation2015.
3 Émilie Frenkiel is lecturer in political science and English at Paris-Est Créteil University (France).
4 Mylène Gaulard is lecturer in economics at Pierre-Mendès-France University in Grenoble (France). She presents herself as a Marxist economist.
5 Alain Badiou is a retired professor of philosophy at University Paris 8 and emeritus professor at the École Normale Supérieure of Paris (France).
6 Jean-Claude Delaunay is a retired professor from University Marne-la-Vallée (France).
7 Concerning socialism with Chinese characteristics, we believe there is a little misunderstanding expressed by Jean-Claude Delaunay in his article “Chine, socialisme, démocratie” (China, socialism, democracy) (Citation2013). Indeed, he says: “… the concrete objective of the Government of China, in the present moment, is not socialism,” but constraint of length makes it impossible to discuss this point in this article.
8 BVA is the complete name of a survey institute (http://www.bva.fr/en).
9 Marie-George Buffet is the former general secretary of the FCP (from 2001 to 2010). She was Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports from 1997 to 2002 under the government of socialist Prime Minister Lionel Jospin.
10 Pierre Laurent is the current general secretary of the FCP (since 2010).
11 L’Humanité in English is a English version of L’Humanité daily newspaper that has existed since 2004. It is based on the translation of selected articles from l’Humanité.
12 The SCO includes China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
13 Showing a hostile attitude and systematically denigrating whatever socialist China does.