“Phantom democracy: a puzzle at the heart of Chinese politics” | SCMP

The Tomorrow Square skyscraper in Shanghai. Are full rice bowls, skyscrapers,
shopping malls and holidays abroad enough?  Photo: Alamy

I'm going to say it right up front: if you want a good overview of what's going on in China, read the South China Morning Post. And in particular its "This Week in Asia" (TWIA) Sunday mag. It publishes people who really know their onions. And does so with (seemingly) no censorship from pro-Beijingers.*

[added: it's also free, and has a great App]

Sydney professor John Keane talks of China's "phantom democracy", which one could also call "democracy with Chinese characteristics". 

I've written of this before: the fact that China may not be democratic in the way we know democracy in the West, but that it's more democratic than many critics realise or acknowledge. Local elections at village level, with more candidates than vacancies, are what I've pointed to. 

Keane talks about that too, and a lot more. 

Like the extraordinary effort Beijing makes to test, and react to, public opinion. 

This is a good article. 

I like that he puts the Chinese (pinyin) in brackets after various Chinese sayings. I wish he'd put the characters as well, but, well, space. 

Meantime here's Keane's article:

Phantom democracy: a puzzle at the heart of Chinese politics

To prove my first point above: In today's edition of "TWIA" there's another article on China worth reading....  A global China must ask itself awkward questions. Is it ready?

********

* For China Experts: keep on with reading the Chinese vernacular press, both government and the people's and following social media. That will give a fuller and more nuanced picture, for sure. But for a nice combination of summary and depth, the SCMP is way ahead of what's done in the likes of the New York Times, The Guardian or Sydney Morning Herald. And better than any other English language press in the region.