The Impact of Multi-Party Cooperation on Chinas Democratization Process

I. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background

Since the 19th century, modern states and societies have experienced three waves of democratisation. During this process, Western

Western capitalist countries infiltrated liberal party democracy into some developing countries and helped some developing In this process, Western capitalist countries have infiltrated the idea of liberal party democracy into some developing countries, helping some of them to complete the transition to party democracy (Zhang & Lu, 2013). However, there were also nations where the transition failed, and a division between the state and society emerged. This has contributed to a particular crisis of faith in capita realise democracy. As the central organisation of contemporary state politics, the party system has played a crucial role in modernisation. The party system, as the key institutional framework of modern state politics, assumes a pivotal role in the administration of a nation. As the bedrock of contemporary state politics, it serves as the foundation for effective governance, as highlighted by Zhuang and Wang (2020).

Drawing on the extensive practical experience of socialist democracy with distinctive Chinese characteristics over the long term, and incorporating the innovative contemporary insights into Marxist party democracy as expounded by Marx (1977), we aim to develop a comprehensive understanding of this concept. General Secretary Xi Jinping has formally proposed the theoretical prerequisite for China's innovation and development of a novel form of political party structure. The Chinese political party system has undergone significant transformation, characterized by a unique arrangement where the Communist Party of China (CPC), charged with safeguarding and promoting the fundamental interests of the vast majority of Chinese citizens, collaborates with democratic parties in China to advance their shared objective of democratic governance. The CPC's original mandate, "working for the happiness of the Chinese people" and "working for the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation," underpins its leadership role in this new paradigm. It is a crucial component of the democratic process (Hu, 2022).

China's rapid progress in economic and social development, as well as the ongoing reform and opening-up process, have triggered a continuous evolution and transformation of its political system. Among them, the democratic system, as a contemporary model of the political system, has garnered an increasing amount of research interest (Wang & Wang, 2021). In China's democratic system, parties are essential components, and the collaboration and competition between different parties significantly impact China's democratisation process (Han, 2022).

Participation parties are an integral element of China's political party system (Qi & Chai, 2020). The multi-party cooperation system led by the Chinese Communist Party is a unique political party system in the world. It is a novel conception of a political party within the theory of political parties, a novel form of political Party on a global scale, and a political phenomenon unique to China. They embrace the leadership of the Communist Party of China, cooperate with it instead of fighting it, supervise each other instead of opposing it, and are active in the contemporary Chinese political arena in order to share power rather than seize it (Ran & Li, 2019). It also demonstrates that China's socialist democratic political system is superior. As the scope of China's reforms expanded from the economic to the political spheres, the significant development of material civilisation stimulated the advancement of political civilisation. Increasing daily are the demands for advancing China's democratic politics (Yang & Liu, 2023).

1.2 Statement of The Problem

In the 1980s, as China's political system entered a new phase of reform, the study of the function of political parties in China's democratic system gained attention and underwent modification (Gao & Yang, 2018). Subsequently, scholars began examining the role and position of political parties in China's democratic system and their contribution to political reform and democratisation (He, 2020).

Consequently, political parties are essential to democratic politics. In democratic politics, political parties play multiple roles, including representing the interests of electors, organising the political competition, setting the political agenda, participating in political decision-making, coordinating political interests, and promoting political reform (Norris, 2019). Political parties serve not only to win elections, but also to influence political decision-making and promote the advancement and progress of democratic politics (Katz & Mair, 2020). Lastly, as democratic politics develop and advance, the Role of political parties in democratic politics is continuously changing and evolving (Mainwaring, 2021). In the process of deepening democratic politics, for instance, the supervision, restriction, and consultation functions of political parties are constantly being bolstered, and the organisation and concept of political parties are constantly evolving and innovating (Scarrow, 2022). Therefore, the study of the function of political parties in democratic countries has essential theoretical and practical significance, which aids in advancing the development and progress of democratic politics and enhancing the understanding and comprehension of democratic politics.

In China's multi-party system, parties represent diverse political forces and interest groups with varying ideologies and political agendas (Chen, 2018). Parties may play a role in democratic oversight, superintend the work of the government and the implementation of policies, advance political reform and institutional development, and promote a transparent government. Parties can cultivate and promote democratic values, improve citizens' political quality and democratic awareness through continuous publicity and education, and advance China's democratic politics (Zhang, 2022).

In the current Chinese political party system, there are eight democratic parties in addition to the CPC. The eight parties mentioned are the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese

Kuomintang, China Democratic League, China National Democratic Construction Association, China Association for the Promotion of Democracy, China Farmers and Workers Democratic Party, China Zhigong Party, Jiusan Society, and Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League.

Democratic parties in China, despite functioning as participating parties, lacked a clear identity as such long after the founding of the People's Republic of China. It wasn't until 1989 when the CPC Central Committee published the "Opinions on Upholding and Improving the System of Multi-Party Cooperation and Political Consultation under the leadership of the Communist Party of China" that the democratic parties were officially recognized as "accepting the leadership of the Communist Party of China". The close friends who cooperate with the CPC and commit themselves to the cause of socialism together are participating parties."The role and significance of participating parties in China's democratic political system have become increasingly clear and recognized over time (Li, 2018).

Participating parties are distinct political phenomena and types of political parties in China, each with its functions (Li & Li, 2019). The theoretical study of participating parties in China started late but has developed significantly and is essential to the study of Chinese political parties (Lin, 2020). The realisation of the democratic value of participating parties depends on whether the advantages of China's political party system can be demonstrated and whether China's democratic politics can develop healthily. There is a vast research space and many pressing questions to be answered. Exploring the democratic value of participating parties based on existing academic accomplishments is advantageous for advancing the theoretical study of participating parties. Also, it meets the requirements for developing democratic politics in China. It has considerable theoretical significance and practical application value (Liang, 2021).

In other words, parties play an indispensable role in Chinese democracy, which influences the growth and development of democratic politics in China. Therefore, strengthening party construction and maximising its Role in democratic politics is required to develop democratic politics in China.

1.3 Significance of the Study

The focus of this paper is to advance and enhance China's political party system in accordance with the overall development of China's democratic politics. It maintains the theme of constructing participating political organizations from the new perspective of democratic value. This paper carries significant practical implications for the development of Chinese democratic politics and political civilization, the consolidation and perfection of the Chinese political party system, the promotion of constructing participating political parties, and the realization of their party values.

1.3.1 The Essential Conditions for China's Development of Democratic Politics

Political democratisation is an essential content of national modernisation, and the degree of political democratisation is an important symbol of a country's modernisation level (Liu, 2018). No matter the "wave of democratisation" around the world after the 1970s (according to the explanation of the American scholar Huntington, from the 19th century to the 20th century, humankind experienced three waves of democratisation, and the third wave referred to as the period from 1974 to 1990s when about 33 countries established democratic systems), It is also the "colour revolution" in the Commonwealth of Independent States and Central Asian countries in this century, which is full of distinct Western value preference and system choice. The "universal value of democracy" is more about the West's use of democracy in densification, instrumentalisation, utilitarianism and politicisation, which is the realistic expression of Western values and ideologies (Yang, 2019). In view of the impact of the democratic trend dominated by the power of discourse in the West, our country needs to make its own interpretation and interpretation of democracy (Liu, 2020).

Since the turn of the millennium, China has put forward that "there can be no socialism without democracy" and "realising and developing people's democracy is the unswerving goal of the Communist Party of China and all democratic parties" (Tong,2020). These expressions not only convey the connotation of democracy of socialism in China from the goal and ideal level, indicating that democracy is the inherent meaning of socialism, but also determine that the realisation of democratic value, the practice of democratic spirit, and implementation of the democratic system will always run through the whole course of contemporary China's political development.

Although the West acknowledges China's economic progress and social changes following the reform and opening up, it has not fully recognized China's political system and the advancements made in its democratic political development (Borzel & Risse, 2018). Our party system and democratic politics are tested by the influence and infiltration of Western democratic concepts and other ideologies (Carothers, 2018).

To ensure the steady growth of China's economy and society, it is essential to establish a stable political environment that supports the development of China's democratic politics (Ma, 2019). The cooperation between the Chinese Communist Party and democratic parties is crucial in achieving this goal. Without the leadership and support of the ruling Party and the complete support of all participating parties, progress in the development of democratic politics and the expansion of political civilisation in China would not be possible. Realising the democratic value of participating parties and continuously accumulating incremental democracy (the concept of incremental democracy proposed by Chinese scholar Yu Keping includes four fundamental meanings) is conducive to coping with the impact and challenge of the democratic trend and promoting the healthy The advancement of China's democratic politics and political civilization is a crucial aspect of China's overall development (Tiezzi, 2019).

1.3.2 The Practical Need to Consolidate China's Political Party System

Since the start of the new millennium, China has emphasized that the multi-party cooperation system under the leadership of the Communist Party "embodies the characteristics and advantages of China's political system and reflects the essence of socialist democracy where the people are masters of the country" (Guo, 2019). The word "democracy" is firmly integrated into China's political party system, and the democratic value orientation is demonstrated in the democratic objectives chosen by the ruling Party and other parties (Wang, 2018). This perspective enables an examination of the Communist Party's governance and the participation of democratic parties in politics with regard to realizing and advancing the people as masters of the country and understanding the current Chinese political party system from the essence of socialist democracy.

Currently, a benevolent political guarantee is imperative to advance the development of democratic politics in China as it sustains the stable and long-term health of China's economy and society (Liu, 2019). The current political party system in China operates on the basic framework of the ruling of the Communist Party and the participation of multiple parties in politics, providing an essential vehicle for democratic politics and an institutional platform for the ruling and participating parties to demonstrate their democratic values and fulfil their respective social responsibilities and political functions (Wang, 2020). It is crucial to realise the democratic value of participating parties to enhance mutual promotion between the ruling Party and participating parties, deepen multi-party cooperation, consolidate and develop the socialist political party system with Chinese characteristics, and evaluate and highlight the benefits of China's political party system, thus enhancing its influence and international standing (Zhang, 2020).

1.4 Literature Review

The research on the valuable Role of participating parties in democratic countries is at the theoretical frontier, and there are almost no direct research results in the academic community. The research on China's political party system, including the ruling Party, democratic parties, and democratic politics, has been the primary focus of relevant studies (Bogaards, 2015). However, due to distinct ideological barriers and different political positions, domestic and foreign studies on the above topics have been heavily influenced by their discourse systems. There are specific barriers and difficulties in communication and dialogue between them (Lust-Okar, 2016).

The Role of political parties in democratic nations is an essential research direction in political science, as it significantly impacts the political system, political culture, and political economy (Zhang, 2019). Few foreign articles analyse the democratic nature of China's new political party system compared to those written by domestic scholars. More scholars examine Chinese political parties and democratic models, and the majority examines the essence of Chinese democracy through the lens of culture, language, and history (Hu & Bai, 2019). To understand the democratic logic behind China's new political party system, it is essential to compare it with the well-developed theories of Western political party democracy. This will help identify the differences between the two political party systems and highlight the comparative advantages of China's new political party system (Yin, 2019). Weber's analysis of the characteristics of political parties and Sartori's analysis of political parties and the party system have long influenced the party system theory (Sartori, 2019). In addition to the perspective of party organisation, western democratic theory can also serve as a reference. The theories of unitary democracy by Mansbridge, deliberative democracy by Johansen, inclusive democracy by Gale, and consensus democracy by Rifat (Manin, 2019). Holly Snape's research on the history of the Chinese Communist Party and official documents suggests that the official discourse in China allows for political participation (Johnson, 2019).

In 1999, Stepanova, a Russian scholar, published a work entitled The Multi-party Cooperation System in the People's Republic of China, which explored the formation, characteristics, and functions of the multi-party cooperation system with Chinese characteristics, as well as the role of the eight non-communist democratic parties. Additionally, a collective work from the Russian perspective titled The Chinese Political System and the Legal System in the Process of Reform 1978-2005, published in 2007, sheds light on China's democratic parties and their involvement in party politics (McBride, 2019). Since the 1990s, foreign academics have made significant advancements in studying China's democratic parties, such as the 1995 study by German researchers. H. M. Umbach's book The Chinese Democratic Parties under the Influence of the Communist Party provides a detailed analysis of the historical background, programmatic objectives, functions, and self-identification of the formation of democratic parties in China. Umbach argues that democratic parties only cooperate with the Chinese Communist Party because they shared the same goals during the New Democratic Revolution. However, they were never founded to serve the Communist Party's objectives. In 1999, Stepanova, a Russian scholar, published The Multi-party Cooperation System in the People's Republic of China, which delved into the formation, characteristics, and functions of the multi-party cooperation system in China. This monograph also shed light on the eight non-communist political parties and democratic parties. Meanwhile, a collective work on Chinese party politics from the Russian perspective titled The Chinese Political System and the Legal System in the Reform Process of 1978-2005 was published in 2007, providing additional insights into China's democratic parties (McBride, 2019).

Due to space constraints, this paper will not elaborate on the research methods. However, these methods can help political science scholars obtain a more comprehensive understanding of the Role and influence of political parties in democracies.

II. THE DEMOCRATIC RESPONSIBILITY OF CHINA'S POLITICAL PARTIES IN THE NEW POLITICAL PARTY SYSTEM

2.1 The Introduction of The Idea of Popular Sovereignty and The Breakthrough of Democratic Theory

Rousseau, one of the most notable representatives of the Enlightenment in the eighteenth century and an ideological forerunner of the French Revolution, made a significant conceptual contribution to the development of democratic theory by introducing the concept of the sovereignty of the people.

Rousseau believed every human being is born free and equal and that freedom is a natural right of man (Rousseau, 2016). When faced with obstacles to survival, humans with such a proper natural form a bond through the conclusion of a social contract (Rawls, 1993). The establishment of the state is the result of a contract made by a free people, representing a political and moral community that has been created through their voluntary agreement. The conclusion of the contract means that "each bond and all its own rights are transferred to the collective as a whole (Dahl, 2015)." At the same time, "from any one of the unions, the people can acquire the same rights that they have ceded to them so that they receive the equivalent of everything they have lost and greater power to preserve all that they have and to be free as before (Habermas, 2015). The general guides everyone will in a state formed by a social contract. The public will is the "constant will of all the members of the state" and is the central expression of the public interest and the common will of the people. It always tends towards equality, applies to all united people, and is always just (Held, 2016).

Rousseau was not the first to formulate a theory of sovereignty; Bourdin, Grotius and Hobbes, who had elaborated it before him, all bore the imprint of the age of kingship, while Locke insisted on parliamentary sovereignty against hereditary kingship. However, he believed the people could not exercise power directly (Guo, 2019). In contrast, there is a distinct idea running through Rousseau's assertion that the people are the sole source of state power and that the sovereignty of the state (i.e. supremacy) should also belong to the people as a whole. Sovereignty comes from the people and should also be held by the people and exercised by the people. Since sovereignty was not transferable, indivisible or representative, Rousseau believed that direct democracy could achieve the people's sovereignty (Weiler, 2020).

Rousseau's idea of "popular sovereignty" has profoundly impacted the history of democracy. Ancient Greek democracy, emphasising "rule by the people", was a political system in the form of a city-state polity imbued with the pursuit of values such as equality and freedom. The idea of "popular sovereignty" reflects an ideal tendency in human nature, which covers the political demands for political equality and individual freedom. It is the core value of democracy, revealing the essence of democracy. Although Rousseau's idea of popular sovereignty had many objective and illogical flaws, and although he favoured direct democracy but left himself torn by doubts about its feasibility, he could not foresee the critical value and prospects of popular sovereignty (Yang & Zhu, 2018). However, subsequent historical developments have shown that the idea of popular sovereignty has extensively promoted the development of democratic theory, not only stimulating the democratic political enthusiasm of the masses during the bourgeois ascendancy and becoming a powerful ideological weapon of the French Revolution but also influencing the course of democratic political development in the West and the world since modern times, becoming a later generation's resistance to political oppression, the achievement of political equality and the struggle for individual freedom and human emancipation. It has become a theoretical banner of resistance to political oppression, political equality and the struggle for individual freedom and human emancipation for generations to come, exuding a timeless ideological appeal (Larmore, 2019).

2.2 Political Party Consultation is An Exemplary Form of Socialist Consultative Democracy

Over the past seven decades since the founding of New China, democratic parties have, under their unique institutional, channel, organisational and talent advantages, participated in the significant decisions of the CPC and the state on a long-term and continuous basis and have established a relatively close contact mechanism with high-level decision-making bodies and decision-makers, fully intervening in all aspects of public decision-making, which is an essential manifestation of full-process people's democracy (Huang, 2019). Party consultation, a key democratic process, involves direct consultation between the CPC and democratic parties, with a shared focus on political goals. It is particularly important before and during the implementation of significant policies and affairs of the Party and the state, and plays a critical role in promoting socialist consultative democracy (Wang, 2021). Political party consultation is a crucial component of socialist consultative democracy and the political party system in China. It serves as a significant mechanism for state governance with Chinese characteristics and a model of socialist consultative democracy (Xie, 2018). At present, political party consultation includes three forms of consultation: meeting consultation, consultation by appointment and written consultation, which are political, party-based, high-level and direct and are virtual channels and ways for the central committees of democratic parties to participate in high-level decision-making (Yang, 2019).

General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasised in September 2019 that "the multi-party cooperation and political consultation system under the leadership of the CPC is a fundamental political system in China and a new type of political party system originating on Chinese soil" (Li, 2021). In December 2020, the CPC Central Committee revised the "Regulations on the Work of the United Front," again clarifying political party consultation's content and general requirements through party regulations (Yu, 2020). According to the Opinions on the Implementation of Strengthening Political Party Consultations, the main contents of political party consultations between the CPC Central Committee and the Central Committees of democratic parties include "the relevant important documents of the

National Congress of the CPC and the CPC Central Committee; the proposed amendments to the Constitution, the proposed formulation and amendment of relevant important laws; the proposed candidates for important positions." The primary contents include "important issues related to reform, development, and stability; major issues of the united front and multi-party cooperation; and other important issues requiring consultation," which are all fundamental, global, and strategic issues (Zhu, 2018).

2.3 Practical Features of the Role of Democratic Values of Political Parties

"Democracy is generated from within and not imposed from without." Similarly, national party systems result from particular historical circumstances and cannot be transplanted or replicated (Liu, 2019). The multi-party cooperation system managed by the Party is a unique form of political party system in the world and a crucial aspect of achieving socialist democracy. Political parties are a fundamental manifestation of the uniqueness of China's political party system, which has distinct practical characteristics in its democratic role compared to Western political parties (Li & Zhang, 2018).

In general, political parties are a product of the development of the state to a particular stage and arise as the political power of the state opens up to society and under the conditions of a certain level of democratic political factor development in the country (Yang, 2017). The spread of democracy is a significant indicator of the significance of political parties' roles (Chen, 2016).

In modern Western party systems, pursuing democratic goals is hidden chiefly but also explicit. When people think of Western democracy, they unconsciously think of the sovereignty of the people and representative government, which has almost become the standard of Western democracy and the logical starting point of the current Western party system (Habermas, 2019). "It continues the democratic aspirations of the bourgeoisie, represented by Rousseau's idea of "popular sovereignty" since the 18th century, and is intertwined with the ancient democratic values of equality and liberty, which are still the traditional democratic values of Western political parties. (Inglehart & Norris, 2019). As modernisation progresses and traditional capitalism gradually evolves into modern capitalism, the social structure of European and American countries has undergone a significant transformation due to the declining ratio of industrial workers to proletarians and the growing ranks of the middle class; class differences are no longer as apparent as they once were; the class nature of Western democracy has become very different from the era of Marx and Engels' proletarian revolution, and democracy and it is closely related Although these words are rarely found in the political programmes or election platforms of Western political parties, they are the default political consensus and democratic values of political parties in all countries. They are practised in the political behaviour of party societies and party states (Mudde, 2020).

In contrast, pursuing democratic objectives in the modern Chinese political party system has unique characteristics. China's unique political party system emerged from the national democratic revolution, evolved during the complex development of socialist construction with Chinese characteristics and the reform and opening up process, and is guided by the ideals of equality, freedom, fairness, and justice in the pursuit of democracy. The CPC and the state now view the role of the ruling Communist Party and democratic parties in politics as a means to achieve and advance people's democracy, and interpret the Chinese political party system through the lens of socialist democracy with a Chinese character that reflects the will of the people (Guo & Tao, 2020). Democracy is deeply embedded in China's political party system, reflecting the people's control (Xu, 2018).

Although the participating parties have distinct positions and roles in achieving and advancing people's democracy, and different ways of expressing the people's mastery due to different political labor divisions, the democratic parties still emphasize their political participation as their specific party role—the democratic value concept (Yang, 2018).

China's democratic political construction offers favourable conditions for political parties to fulfil their political democratisation function and democratic value role (Chen, 2022). On the one hand, the multi-party cooperation system guided by the Party satisfies the urgent need for rapid modernisation to increase the effectiveness of political participation and the expansion of socialism (Huang, 2019). The political participation of democratic parties, while conveying the interests and proposals of the specific social groups to which they belong, can also receive the wishes and demands of all levels of society and, after deliberating, sifting, and integrating them, eliminate the irrational and immature contents and transform the independent, fragmented, and individual demands into organised, systematic, and generally meaningful suggestions and opportunities. Democratic parties can aggregate the pluralistic demands of society through effective political participation and expression of opinions within the system, avoid and prevent the risks of social governance arising from uncontrolled political participation, and significantly impact China's political democratisation process (Li & Li, 2021).

On the other hand, democratic oversight based on united and cooperative party relations is also a crucial guarantee for harmonious party relations and the effective operation of the political system (Zheng, 2020). As the ruling Party, the CCP has the legal status and supreme power specified by the Constitution. It has always prioritised realising the interests of the most significant number of people without regard for their self-interest (Zhao & Lu, 2020). However, the universal political law of party development suggests that unmonitored and uncontrolled power is bound to breed corruption, which can lead to the development of political parties that deviate from their political goals and to the alienation and transformation of the parties themselves (Zhang, 2021). The ruling position of the CCP places it at the centre of power, and without adequate oversight, power can easily be overstepped. Inter-party supervision, especially democratic supervision of the Communist Party by democratic parties, is a kind of high-level heterogeneous political supervision. The suggestions, opinions and criticisms of democratic parties are positive and constructive rather than harmful and destructive. The inter-party supervision effect (Yang, 2021). The more effective the democratic supervision of democratic parties is, the more fully their democratic value as participating parties will be realised. Accordingly, democratic parties, as participating parties, also need to keep pace with the times. The leadership and democratic supervision of democratic parties by the Communist Party of China (CPC), as the ruling Party, will also constantly promote the consciousness of democratic parties to strengthen the construction of participating parties, enhance the concept of political participation and improve their ability to participate in politics in the ever-changing social order, better realise their participation in politics and democratic supervision, and bring into play their due democratic values (Chen. 2019).

III. CONCLUSION

To summarize, the democratic participation of new political parties in China is essential for modernizing the country's state governance. This paper examines the development of China's new political party system through the lens of the multi-party cooperation and political consultation system under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party. The process of democratization in China's new political party system can be traced back to the democratic revolution, the socialist construction period, and the reform and opening-up era. The CPC has led democratic parties in achieving comprehensive democratization in five key areas: decision-making, consultation, elections, supervision, and management. These efforts have yielded impressive results and reflect the new concept of green development in governance.

In recent years, world political parties have enhanced the political interaction of the CPC, which stems from the fact that China's new political party system has provided a new mode of thinking in addressing the transformation of the democratisation of world political parties. The irreconcilable class-democratic contradictions faced by the traditional capitalist theory of party democracy are effectively addressed in socialist China's theory of party democracy, which ensures the introduction of a competitive element while avoiding the political risks of political parties collapsing against each other. At the same time, with the development of a multi-polar world and the increasingly close inter-regional relations between countries, human coexistence requires a country like China, whose philosophy of development is "harmony", and the inclusiveness embodied in the new Chinese model of party democracy is welcomed by the world's political party organisations.

The Communist Party of Russia, the Communist Party of Spain and others said, "The Communist Party of China has carried out fruitful work in promoting global inter-party contacts and cooperation, and we are willing to work together with the Communist Party of China to exchange and cooperate in order to work together for global peace and development and enhance the well-being of people in each other's countries and around the world." Many political parties worldwide are eager to share their governance experiences with Chinese political parties to confront the emerging global crises, and they have expressed a desire to join forces with the Communist Party of China in international party cooperation to address these crises. Among other things, the world's political parties must urgently learn from the ideological leadership of Chinese political parties as they implement reforms. In summary, the democratization of China's new political parties is not only necessary for meeting the country's democratic and rule of law development needs, but also serves as a basis for international cooperation between Chinese and foreign political parties.