Teaching Comparative Government and Politics

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Democratic supervision

Two phrases leapt out at me when I read this news release: "building of a moderately prosperous society in all aspects" and "democratic supervision." The first phrase strikes me as boiler plate Party goal setting (that ensures success). The second seems oxymoronic to my American perspective. (Isn't supervision axiomatically anti-democratic?)

I wonder what these phrases were in the original Chinese? What would they be if translated by someone who wasn't a Party propaganda official?

China's top political advisory body concludes annual session,vowing to step up democratic supervision

China's top political advisory body will press ahead with democratic supervision to contribute to the building of a moderately prosperous society in all aspects, says a political resolution approved at the advisory body's annual session.

The political resolution of the Fourth Session of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the top political advisory body, was approved at the closing meeting of the 11-day annual session of the CPPCC National Committee…

The political development path of socialism with Chinese characteristics is the only correct road for China's development and progress as proved by practice, according to the political resolution.

"(We should) neither deviate nor waver from the path at any time, under any circumstances," it said…

The CPPCC will carry out democratic supervision and pool its wisdom and strength in accomplishing targets and tasks set forth in the 12th Five-Year Plan, the resolution said…

The CPPCC National Committee currently has 2,260 members, and 2,129 of them attended the closing meeting of the annual session.

The CPPCC is a patriotic united front organization of the Chinese people, serving as a key mechanism for multi-party cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the CPC, and a major manifestation of socialist democracy.

Members of the CPPCC are representatives of the CPC and non-Communist parties, personages without party affiliation, and representatives of people's organizations, ethnic minorities and various social strata.

The CPPCC also has the representation of compatriots of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, returned overseas Chinese, and specially invited people.

Teaching Comparative blog entries are indexed.

Top Communist Party of China (CPC) and state leaders Hu Jintao (4th L, front), Wu Bangguo (4th R, front), Wen Jiabao (3rd L, front), Li Changchun (3rd R, front), Xi Jinping (2nd L, front), Li Keqiang (2nd R, front), He Guoqiang (1st L, front) and Zhou Yongkang (1st R, front) are present at the closing ceremony of the Fourth Session of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 13, 2011. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

The Fourth Edition of What You Need to Know is available from the publisher (where shipping is always FREE).

Labels: China, political culture, politics