Full Description
Democracy and the Rule of Law in China is intended to make available to English-language readers debates among prominent Chinese intellectuals and academics over issues of political, constitutional, and legal reform; modes of governance in urban and rural China; and culture and cultural policy. China's unprecedented economic development following the implementation of the Reform and Opening policy has drawn widespread international attention; yet accompanying political developments have been largely overlooked. A compilation of the works of twelve contemporary Chinese scholars, this book offers unique insights into the wealth of viewpoints and diversity of issues influencing and defining the development of democracy and the rule of law in China. Based on theoretical and practical analyses of China's political development to date, the authors propose specific models for the expansion of democratic mechanisms already present in the current political structure. Exploring topics ranging from autonomous village governance and grassroots elections to constitutional reform and judicial independence, the authors are unified on one point: China's political development must pursue a gradual, distinctly-Chinese course in order to promote social stability, continued economic advancement, and the establishment of a socialist democratic society.
Contents
PART ONE
DEMOCRACY—THEORETICAL ISSUES
Toward an Incremental Democracy and Governance: Chinese Theories and Assessment Criteria
Yu Keping
An Analysis of the Basic Theoretical Problems Concerning Democracy in China
Gu Su
Democratization: The Chinese Model and Course of Political Development
He Zengke
PART TWO
DEMOCRACY AND PROBLEMS OF GOVERNANCE
A Survey of Civic Character and Electoral Reform in China
Cai Dingjian
Intraparty Democracy and Political Development: Exploiting the Resources within the Establishment to Advance China's Democratic Development
Hu Wei
Democratization of the National People's Congress as the Focal Point for the Continued Advancement of China's Democratic Development
Pu Xingzu
The Route of Rural Governance Reform: Strengthening Village Management and Streamlining Township and County Governance
Xu Yong
A Survey of China's Legislative Work to Establish Village Autonomy
Bai Gang
PART THREE
ON THE RULE OF LAW
Constitutionalism and China
Li Buyun
Several Fundamental Theoretical Issues Regarding China's Constitutional Reform
Xia Yong
Judicial Independence and Constitutional Reform
Ma Huaide and Deng Yi
China and the Rule of Law in the Global Era
Zhang Wenxian
