民主主义在中国的前景

The Prospect of Democratism in China

民主可区分为理念与制度两个层次。前者是建立在平等基础上的民主主义,后者的核心环节为选举制。制度层面的民主,在今后实践中未必会遇到真正的障碍;但平等的理念,却与本文化的精英主义传统格格不入,甚难为国人认同。如果西方的经济—社会危机持续发展,则一度宣称终结了历史的民主,可能最先在中国受到挑战。

Democracy has two dimensions: as an idea and as an institution.The former refers to democratismbased on egalitarianism,while the key to the latter is election.Democracy as an institution will not necessarily encounter real difficulties in practice in the future.But egalitarianism is antithetical to Chinese elitist tradition and so is unlikely to be accepted by Chinese people.If the Western socio-economic crises persist,democracy,once credited with the 'end of history,'will probably face its first challenge in China.