Practicing Deliberative Democracy in China: Multiple Deliberative Democracy in Policy-making (Understanding China)

✍ Scribed by Fuguo Han

• Publisher: Springer
• Year: 2023
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 311
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

This book argues that most public affairs can be openly discussed before consensus is reached, and people from different backgrounds should be encouraged to get involved in policy-making on an equal basis. This is considered multiple deliberative democracy. The book features in-depth discussions on why multiple deliberative democracy is needed in China, what specific procedures it entails, and how it is conducted in local communities across the country. In addition, it probes into the areas of public administration where multiple deliberative democracy can be employed to enhance informed decision-making on public affairs, such as community self-governance matters, matters to be voted on by the National People's Congress, collecting CPPCC motions, social organization (or corporation) consultation, vital planning schemes of the society, and citizen education. Furthermore, the monograph explores the pluralism in deliberative democracy, such as mass symposium, citizen (villager) BBS, community Internet BBS, discussions in open areas of the community, “vision workshops”, and citizen jury. It is concluded that thorough deliberation among citizens may profoundly impact the government’s informed-decision-making. The book exposes the readers to the democratic system of modern China and sheds lights on its contextualized, unique multiple deliberative democracy procedures and practices. University students, researchers, and practitioner in the fields of political science, public administration, and international relations, among others, may find this book informative and intriguing.

✦ Table of Contents

Foreword by James. S. Fishkin
Deliberative Democratic Decision-making beyond Political Systems: Hearing People’s Voices and Making Correct Decisions
The Method of Deliberative Democracy Suitable for all Political Systems
The Ordinary People Should Be Participating in the “Deliberation & Consultation”
Scientific Voices Could Be Heard by Decision-makers
Possibility of China’s Specific Deliberative Democratic Method
Foreword by Jing Yuejin
Open Technological Channel for Chinese Political Evolution
A Combination of Different Methods to Select Participants in Democratic Deliberation
Considering Comprehensively the Opinions from Democratic Deliberation
Foreword by Chen Mingming
“Martial Doctrine for Strategists, Formula for Chemistry”:The Technical Operation of Grassroots Democracy in China
Characteristic I: Being Practice-oriented
Characteristic II: Being Problem-oriented
Characteristic III: Being Technology-Oriented
Characteristics of Grassroots Orientation
Contents
1 Introduction
1.1 More Time and Space for Chinese Democratic Participation
2 Method and Procedures: The Practical Democracy
2.1 Communicative and Informed Deliberation
2.1.1 Democratic Institutions and Informed Citizens
2.1.2 Define Public Interests Effectively
2.1.3 Deliberation Other Than Simple Compromise or Suppression
2.2 Deliberation Suitable for Most Public Affairs
2.2.1 The Pros and Cons of the Principal Accountability System
2.2.2 Falsehood of Decisions-Making by Experts
2.2.3 Biased Forums
2.2.4 The Dilemma of Representative Democracy
2.2.5 Case Study: The Council’s Policy vs Civil Protest in Urban Development
2.2.6 Designated Autonomous Committees or Councils
2.2.7 The Biased Opinions in Cyberspace
2.3 Equal Participation from Different Groups
2.3.1 The Need of Expressing Opinions
2.3.2 Avoid Biased Participation
2.3.3 Selection Procedures: Participants of the Masses in Budget-Making at Dousha Town
2.3.4 Possibility of Transcending Individual Interests
2.3.5 Possibility Beyond Elite Decision-Making
2.4 Simple Methods and Procedures to Practice
2.4.1 Procedures to Ensure Participation
2.4.2 Social Self-Governance Is Orderly Participation
2.4.3 The Challenge of Re-Adaption to Procedures and Rules
3 “Deliberative Polling”: A Practicable Method
3.1 Random Sampling: Participants with Equal Opportunities
3.2 Projects Instructions: Make the Information as Well-Balanced as Possible
3.3 Polls Before and After Deliberation: Quantify Public Opinions Scientifically
3.4 Small Group Discussion: Discussions with Trained Moderators
3.5 Dos and Don’ts About Training of Moderators (Guide for Moderators in Small Group Discussion)
3.6 Plenary Session: Interaction Between Decision-Makers and Participants
3.7 Release of the Results: Feedback for Participants
4 Multiple Deliberative Democratic Decision-Making: Procedures for Chinese Structure
4.1 Multiple Selections of Participants Beyond Random Sampling
4.1.1 Multiple Random Sampling
4.1.2 Participants in Random Sampling
4.1.3 Random Sampling of Community Officials
4.1.4 Voluntary Participants in Random Sampling
4.1.5 Experts Participants (Professionals, Scholars, and Technical Officials)
4.1.6 Randomly Matched Small Groups
4.1.7 Appropriate Remuneration for Participants
4.1.8 A Deliberative Democratic Decision-making Project: “Residents’ Self-governance Fund” on Puxing Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai
4.2 Practical Cases of Random Sampling
4.2.1 Computer Random Sampling on Puxing Road
4.2.2 Computer Random Sampling of Representatives to Participate in a Renovation Project of Pingyangliucun Community on Gumei Road, Minhang District, Shanghai
4.2.3 “Table Tennis Random Sampling” in Zeguo Town, Wenling City, Zhejiang Province
4.2.4 Comparison of Selecting Methods at Zeguo Town
4.3 Cases of Multiple Deliberative Procedures
4.3.1 Table Tennis Lottery Random Sampling on Representatives at Zeguo Town, 2016
4.4 Sufficient Circulation of Decisions: Making Participants Informed
4.4.1 Pres-Deliberation of Project Planning
4.4.2 Return Visit for Deliberative Democratic Polling on “Residents Self-Governance Fund” on Puxing Road Sub-District
4.4.3 Distributions of Project Materials in Advance
4.4.4 Invitation
4.5 Three Polls: Before, During, and After Deliberation
4.5.1 Double-Blinded Trial: A Questionnaire Survey Before Materials
4.5.2 Self-Judgment: A Questionnaire Survey After Exposure to Materials but Before Deliberation
4.5.3 Cognitive Judgment: A Questionnaire Survey After Deliberation
4.5.4 Informed Decision-Making: Comparison of Opinions Before and After Deliberation
4.6 Group Discussion: Skilled Moderator
4.6.1 Compliance With Rules of Discussion
4.6.2 Formation of Focuses of Opinions
4.6.3 Avoiding Polarization of Attitudes
4.7 Plenary Session: Interaction Among All Participants
4.7.1 Plenary Session for Further Deliberation
4.7.2 Deepening the Second Group Discussion
4.7.3 Composition of “Small-Plenary-Small” Deliberation
4.8 Release of Results: Feedback to Participants of Various Statuses
4.8.1 Announcement of the Results of Deliberative Democratic Poll on Residents Self-Governance Funds on Puxing Road
4.9 Performance Review: Achieving Continuous Decision-Making on Long-Term Developments
4.9.1 Agenda of “Heart-To-Heart Discussion” on Financial Statement in Zeguo Town, Winling City, Zhejiang Province, 2014
4.10 Choice of Topics: A Combination of Politics and Technology
4.11 Supplementary Procedures: Intro-Structure Substitution and In-Depth Amendment
4.11.1 Intro-Structure Substitution of Representatives
4.11.2 Amendment of In-Depth Interview
4.12 Combination of Reliability and Validity: Duplication of Procedures
5 The Operational Space for Multiple Deliberative Democratic Approaches
5.1 Decision-Making on Community Self-Governance Matters
5.2 People’s Congress’s Voting Procedures
5.3 Collection of Proposals of the CPPCC
5.4 Public Decision-Makings of Government
5.4.1 Seminar on Projects of Residents’ Self-Governance
5.5 Democratic Consultation of Social Organizations (Enterprises)
5.6 CPC Intra-Party Democratic Decision-Making
5.7 Major Social Planning Projects
5.8 Civic Education
6 Comparison of Political Participation Methods: Practices of Deliberative Democracy in China
6.1 Mass Forum
6.1.1 Text Broadcast of 49th Standing Meeting of Hangzhou Municipal Government
6.1.2 Working Method of “1 + 1 + X” in Puxing Sub-district
6.2 Citizen (Villager) Forum
6.3 “Four Meetings” System
6.3.1 Measures of Hearing, Coordination Meeting, and Appraisal Meeting in Residential Areas in Shanghai
6.3.2 Sitting-In Announcement of the Fourth Session of the Thirteenth Guiyang Municipal People’s Congress
6.4 Community Network Forum
6.5 Government-Society Communication Day
6.6 “Open Space” for Discussions
6.7 Open Space Discussion on the Planning of the Functions of Old Service Stations in Jinqiaowan Residential Area
6.8 Scenario Workshop
6.9 Robert’s Rules of Order
6.9.1 Gubei Civic Council Hall
6.9.2 Meeting Rules (Referring to Robert’s Rules of Order)
6.10 Citizen Jury
6.10.1 “12 Angry Men”
6.11 One-Off Poll
7 Adequate Communication: Make an Informed Decision
Appendix I Deliberative Polling on “Residents’ Self-Governance Funds” on Puxing Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai
Who Is in Charge of My Territory? The Deliberative Polling Practiced in Shanghai for the First Time
Residents Participate in the Project Voluntarily and Cannot Be Substituted
There Are Both Active and Silent Participants
Residents: The Squeaky Wheel Gets the Grease
Residents Think They Entail the Right to Speak
Links: What Is the Deliberative Polling?
Making Democracy Work in China: The First Deliberative Polling® on Urban Governance in Shanghai
To Make China’s Democracy Workable
A Brief History of Practicing Deliberative Democracy in China
Establish Rigorous Deliberation Procedures
An Orderly Process of Engagement
The Convincing Results of Deliberative Democracy
Conclusion: A Practicable Democracy
Appendix II Materials of Practicing Deliberative Democracy on Gumei Road, Minhang District, Shanghai
2014 Analysis Report on the Deliberative Polling on Gumei Road
The Significance of Practicing Deliberative Democracy at Grassroots Level
Preparation for the Deliberative Democracy on Gumei Road
Determining to Practice the Deliberative Democracy
Training for Moderators
Selection of Participants and Preparation for Materials
Specific Procedures of Deliberative Democracy on Gumei Road
Data Analysis Before and After the Deliberation
Changes of Participants’ Average Recognition of Specific Projects
Changes of the Public’s Attitudes Towards Their Abilities to Engage in Decision-Making Process
Changes of Opinions About Obtaining Basic Information About Community
Recommendations on Advancing the Democratic Deliberation in the Future
The Overall Enthusiasm for Engagement
The Materials Were Simple
Weaknesses of the Moderators
Note-Taking Problems During the Deliberation Process
Procedures of the Deliberative Polling on the “Pingyangliucun Community”, Gumei Road, Shanghai
The Genda of Deliberative Democratic Conference on the “A Renovation Project of Pingyangliucun Community, Gumei Road, Minhang District, Shanghai”
Detailed Items of the Renovation Project of Pingyangliucun Community, Gumei Road
The Questionnaire of Renovation Project of Gulongliucun Community on Gumei Road
Appendix III Deliberative Polling on “Open Party Build-Up” on Gumei Road of Minhang District, Shanghai
Instruction to Deliberative Polling on “Open Party Build-Up”
Advantages and Disadvantages of Evaluated by the Third Party
The Basic Procedures of the Deliberative Polling on Party-Building
Analysis Report on the Deliberative Democracy Polling on Party Build-Up on Gumei Road, Minhang District, Shanghai, in 2013
Participants’ Satisfaction Over Party Build-Up
Satisfaction of Rules and Regulations
2013 Selection of Top-Priority Projects to Deepen
The Open Questions in Questionnaires
Analysis on Social Parameters Regarding Selecting Critical Projects
Cognition of Deliberative Democracy of Party Build-Up Systems on Gumei Road
Attitudes Towards the Extent of Party Working Committee Accepting Participants’ Opinions
People’s Satisfaction Over the Advance of Party Build-Up Projects
People’s Understanding and Recognition of “Open Party Build-Up”
Overall Evaluation of the Projects
Appendix IV Practices of Deliberative Democracy in Big Picture in China: Characteristics, Structures and Problems at Grassroots Level
Theoretical Characteristics of Current Deliberative Democracy in China
“Deliberation” and “Democracy”: Two Essentials of China’s Practices
Theoretical Characteristics of Chinese Deliberative Democracy
The Plural Action Subjects of China’s Deliberative Democracy
Social Organization: Integration Function of Democratic Engagement
CPPCC Organization: Reviving Supervision Function
Grassroots Party-Building: CPC Mass Line by Deliberative Democracy
Migrant Population: Deliberative Participation to Help Governance
The Multiple Dimensions of China’s Deliberative Democracy
Urban Governance: Deliberative Democracy as Embedded Resource
Rural Governance: Combination of Conventional Deliberation and Modern Democracy
Policy Agenda: From Budget Allocation to Public Decision-Making
Grassroots Elections: Recommending Candidates Through Deliberation
Labor Relationships: Salary Deliberation and Labor Security
Key Topics in the Development of Deliberative Democracy in China
Environmental Protection: Public Opinion for Decision-Making
Cyberspace: A New Approach to Engagement
Deliberative Democracy and Gender-Related Engagement
Deliberative Democracy and Political Culture
Democratic Engagement: Approaches and Procedures of Deliberation
Grassroots Practices: Deliberative Democracy or Democratic Consultation?
Ideology: Making Deliberation Democratic
Normalization: Democracy, Equality, and Continuity of Deliberation
Development: Multiple Dynamics Instead of Administrative Uniform Model
Systemic Matching: An Integral Promotion of All Components of the Existing System
Strategy: Jointly Promote Deliberative Democracy and Economic and Livelihood
Party Transformation: Organic Integration with the Mass Line
Conclusion: The Possibility from Grassroots Governance to National Democratization
Appendix V Procedures of Chinese Participatory Budget—Comparative Analysis of “Yanjin Model” and “Wenling Model”
Question Definition: Participatory Procedures and Impartial Budget
Comparative Analysis of the Procedure of “Participatory Budget”
Background: Procedures of International Budget Participation
Chinese Practice Model: Basic Characteristics of Wenling Procedure
Zeguo’s Process of Participatory Budget
Xinhe’s Process of Participatory Budget
Ruoheng’s Triple Reviews of Budget
Budget of Wenling Municipal Departments
Basic Procedures for “Mass Participation in Budget” in Yanjin
Selection Procedures of Mass Participation Budget
Scope of Mass Participation
Procedures of Deliberation in Mass Participatory Budget
Implementation and Feedback
Recognition and Governance: Comparison of Procedures and Results
Similarities and Differences in Procedures
Comparison of the Identification of Budget Results
Conclusion: Technical and Procedural Supply of Budget
Appendix VI “The Document on Strengthening the Socialist Consultative and Deliberative Democracy” Issued by CPC Central Committee
Significance of Strengthening Socialist Deliberative Democracy
Development Process
Political Significance
Dominating Ideology, Basic Principles and Channels and Procedures for Deliberative Democracy
Guiding Ideology
Basic Principles
Deliberative Channels
Deliberative Procedures
Continue to Strengthen Deliberation Within Political Parties
Continue Regulating Deliberation Within Political Parties
Improve Non-CPC Parties’ Suggestions Directly to CPC Central Committee
Strengthen the Guarantee Mechanism for Deliberation of Non-CPC Parties
Actively Carry Out People’s Congress’ Deliberation
Conduct In-Depth Deliberation on Legislation
Play Full Role of Deputies to PC in Deliberative Democracy
Take Practical Steps to Promote Government Deliberation
Formulate and Publish the Contents of Deliberation
Enhance the Universality and Pertinence of Deliberations
Improve the Government Deliberation Mechanism
Further Improve the Deliberation of the CPPCC
Specify the Major Contents of the Political Deliberation of CPPCC
Improve CPPCC and Other Forms of Deliberation
Strengthen Effective Coordination Between the CPPCC and CPC and Its Government
Strengthen the System Construction of CPPCC
Carry Out Deliberations Among People’s Groups
Improve Mechanism for People’s Groups Participating in Deliberation
Organize the Masses to Conduct Deliberations
Steadily Promote Deliberation at Local and Community Levels
Promote Deliberation in Towns and Streets
Promote Deliberation in Villages and Communities
Promote Deliberation in Enterprises and Public Institutions
Strengthen the Party’s Leadership in Deliberative Democracy
Attach Great Importance to Improving Deliberative Democracy
Establish the Leading System of CPC in the Deliberative Democracy
Encourage the Innovation of Deliberative Democracy
Create a Good Ideology for Deliberative Democracy
Epilogue
Acknowledgment