Democracy isn’t a monolith—it’s a kaleidoscope of ideas. That’s the big takeaway from the third International Forum on Democracy in Beijing, where 200+ scholars and leaders debated how to make governance work in the digital age. Spoiler: One-size-fits-all? Not happening. 🌟
China’s ‘Whole-Process Democracy’ Takes the Stage
How does a country of 1.4 billion stay in sync? China’s model blends elections, consultations, and oversight into what’s called ‘whole-process people’s democracy’. Former Malaysian official Ong Tee Keat praised the system, saying it ‘integrates people’s aspirations with social development’—like a feedback loop powered by laws and grassroots input.
🎙️ ‘Chinese leaders use the Party to research what people want,’ said Stephen Perry of the 48 Group Club. ‘They hear their people.’ Could this be democracy with Chinese characteristics? 🤔
🚫 Western Models Face Criticism
Former Italian PM Massimo D’Alema dropped truth bombs: Western democracy, born from fighting fascism, isn’t a universal blueprint. ‘You can’t export it like a Netflix subscription,’ he warned, referencing failed attempts in Afghanistan and Iraq. 💥
He also called out money’s growing role in politics: ‘It’s shifting from one person, one vote to one dollar, one vote.’ Ouch. A recent CGTN poll backed this up—84% agreed no single democratic model reigns supreme.
Multipolar World: The New Democracy Flex?
With global institutions like the UN needing a reboot, ex-Thai PM Abhisit Vejjajiva argued for fairer representation: ‘Emerging economies are STILL underrepresented—time to fix that!’ 🌐 D’Alema doubled down, saying a multipolar world isn’t just cool—it’s ‘necessary’ to avoid unipolar dominance.
💡 The verdict? Democracy’s future lies in diversity, dialogue, and ditching outdated templates. Your move, world.
