Grok Describes the Chinese Political 9-Party System from a Western Point of View

NewsVoice asked Grok, Elon Musk’s AI version of ChatGPT, to describe how the Chinese government, which has a population of 1.6 billion, administers the country. Our question: ”Describe the 9-party system in China. How does it work? Explain the decision processes from the root levels to the highest decision-making top level of the central party.”

Grok’s answer:

”The political system in China is often misunderstood as simply a one-party system due to the dominance of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). However, within this framework, there exists a less publicized aspect known as the ”United Front,” which involves eight other political parties in a consultative role.

This setup can be somewhat described as a multi-party cooperation system under the leadership of the CCP. Here’s a simplified explanation of how this system works: 

The Nine Parties

Chinese Communist Party (CCP) – The ruling party with ultimate control over the state.

The Eight Democratic Parties:

1. 1. Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang
   2. China Democratic League
   3. China National Democratic Construction Association
   4. China Association for Promoting Democracy
   5. Chinese Peasants’ and Workers’ Democratic Party
   6. China Zhi Gong Party
   7. Jiusan Society
   8. Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League

How It Works

• • Membership and Role: These eight parties primarily function in advisory and consultative roles. They do not contest for power against the CCP but participate in the political process through the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), which is a political advisory body.
  • The CPPCC: This is where members from all nine parties, along with representatives from various sectors of society, discuss and advise on state affairs. It’s a platform for political consultation, democratic supervision, and participation in the deliberation and administration of state affairs.

Decision-Making Process

A. Local Level

At the grassroots or local level, decisions might start from discussions in local party branches or through community-level consultations where members of all parties might be present but with the CCP having the final say.

B. Provincial Level

Here, decisions escalate through similar structures but with more formal meetings and consultations within the provincial branches of the CPPCC or directly within the CCP’s own structures.

C. National Level

• • Party Congresses: The National Congress of the CCP is held every five years, where major policy directions are set. However, this is predominantly a CCP affair.
  • The National People’s Congress (NPC): While the NPC is the highest organ of state power, where laws are passed, and major decisions are ratified, the CCP guides its agenda. The eight democratic parties can propose legislation or policies here, but again, under the overarching influence of the CCP.
  • The Central Committee and Politburo: Real policy-making power lies with the Central Committee of the CCP, its Politburo, and especially the Politburo Standing Committee. These bodies make the key decisions after potentially consulting with or considering inputs from the CPPCC.
  • Consultation and Feedback: Decisions often involve a process of consultation where feedback is sought from the democratic parties via the CPPCC, think tanks, or through direct channels. However, this does not mean these parties have veto power or can fundamentally alter the CCP’s decisions.

Implementation

Once decisions are made at the highest levels, they trickle down through the party structure, where they are implemented by government bodies at various levels, often involving members of all parties in administrative roles but still under CCP guidance.

Key Points

• • CCP Dominance: Every significant decision is made or approved by the CCP leadership. The other parties do not challenge this dominance but work within its framework.
  • Symbolic vs. Real Power: While the eight democratic parties have a presence and voice, their power is more symbolic or advisory rather than decision-making in the Western sense of opposition or coalition parties.
  • Legitimacy and Unity: This system helps the CCP maintain an image of inclusiveness, consensus, and unity, potentially broadening its legitimacy by incorporating diverse views while firmly retaining control.

The system ensures that while diverse voices are heard, the central power structure remains unchallenged, allowing for stability but also raising questions about genuine political pluralism and democracy.”

And so Grok finishes off its assessment.

The Editor’s comment

Even if Grok is much less politically correct than ChatGPT, according to the Western view, Grok still presents a Western standpoint regarding China’s political system. But can the Western way of thinking be used to understand China? I am not so sure. Why do people in the West always think their political system is the only reference point? And, are Western think tanks, politicians, and journalists competent enough to assess how China works if they have not even visited It?

The Chinese government system is probably the best for China, which has 1.6 billion people. That is more than the populations of Europe, Russia, and the Middle East combined. The 9-Party System seems to work fine for China and the Chinese people since it involves much less controversy, conflicts, and political infighting than the Western style of administering a country. So the outcome of nonviolent politics is obvious. China enjoys stability.

We at NewsVoice base our perceptions on several well-documented trips to China, including more than 60 short field studies and endless discussions with Western journalists and Chinese people inside China.

But, understanding China may take a lifetime.

Comment by T. Sassersson