美 Mei - Zhong 中 關 Guan - Xi 系

Looking at the Development of Democratic Conditions from the Viewpoint of Internet Culture (从网络文化看发展民主的条件)

By Zhao Duan (赵端)

Original Publication:

Study Times (学习时报)

Link to Original Article

Translated by Anton Lee Wishik II for Mei-Zhong Guanxi

The Internet is China’s most democratic area in which anyone can express their own viewpoint with a great deal of freedom. In fact, the Internet has become the testing ground for Chinese democracy. Unfortunately, the conclusions we have arrived at from this experimental forum are not all that optimistic.

Although the Internet has played a very positive role in a series of events and its positive influence has received more and more attention, China’s internet culture is still not healthy. The most prominent manifestation of this unhealthiness has been the saturation of violent language online. When online, a person who is normally gentle and refined may treat others unscrupulously, partake in baseless verbal attacks, and fearlessly employ poisonous, barbaric language. The deep digging of the ‘human flesh search engines’ and the ubiquity of false accusations against supposed Chinese traitors causes great harm to those involved. Furthermore, the degree of this kind of injury has already greatly exceeded what these people should have to bear. This kind of destruction of human rights, which is in complete opposition to democracy, is a classic example of the despotic rule of the majority, and this is exactly what countless democratic theory experts fear the most.

Democracy requires a culture imbued with a spirit of compromise and can only operate upon a foundation of mutual compromise. The minority must obey the majority, and the majority must respect the minority. Without the magnanimity to tolerate dissent, democracy will inevitably evolve into unending internal strife. Moreover, online debate often involves slander and disdain for even considering the opposing viewpoint with ignoramuses, minds handicapped by ridicule, and angry youth at every turn in a special insult network. This falls far short of the necessities of democratic politics.

The Internet confers the maximum freedom of speech to citizens, but many people still cannot exercise this freedom. In addition to irrational slander and intolerance of dissent, groundless accusations regardless of the facts and fits of irresponsible speech are also normal in internet culture, even to the extent that the Internet has already become the primary channel for spreading rumors. Many people have not realized that they should be responsible for every single thing they say and don’t understand that they ought to respect facts and must have proof for what they say. Furthermore, they believe rumors, repeat half-baked ideas as if they were based on good grounds, and flaunt their goal of moving their tongues quickly. As for the effects of what they say, they are nonchalant. If they facts prove them wrong, they still won’t engage in any introspection or confession. There are hardly any examples of people sincerely apologizing for harm caused by what they said online. The situation we have seen is that the Internet gives people freedom of speech, but this kind of freedom has not made people become more tolerant or more open-minded. On the contrary, it has led to the rapid spread of narrow-mindedness and ruthless tyranny. The result it that some people are free to insult and threaten online, but some people don’t dare to speak out because it’s equivalent to giving others a target. Freedom of speech can create this kind of result, and this is something that many people have probably never thought of. Freedom does not only imply a right, but also implies responsibility, namely the responsibility to use the right prudently and take responsibility for what you say. The reality that we should recognize is that our countrymen are not prepared enough in this area.

If actual society was like the Internet with its lack of restrictive mechanisms, the disorder of online democracy would surely appear in real democracy as well. With this in mind, we should be more pragmatic and cautious when pushing forward with democracy. The construction of democratic systems should be gradually carried out in the wake of economic development and the improvement of the masses’ standard of living. Currently, when people discuss democracy, they pay more attention to building institutions. They feel that once the institutions are in place, people will definitely mature as they are trained in implementing democracy. Reality has shown that this is just a pleasant dream and nothing more. If there are not abundant preparations made in improving mass democratic qualities, the construction of institutions very well may fail. After the Xinhai Revolution (辛亥革命), very democratic systems were set up, but due to a lack of preparation in fostering democratic qualities (namely building up civic culture), it was unable to succeed. Afterwards, the course of Chinese democracy rose and fell and continuously twisted and turned. Many areas were returned to their original status and progress was limited. Looking around at all the world’s nations, it cannot be said that there are just a few cases of nations whose systems seem democratic on the exterior, but due to shortcomings in the people’s cultural level, in reality, they are governed undemocratically. There is also more than one case of countries which have paid a disastrous price for this. Just because you want to learn how to swim, you shouldn’t believe that just by jumping into the water you’ll definitely be able to make it.

Achieving democracy is the result of all the aspects and conditions flowing together into one channel, and it’s certainly very difficult to succeed on the first try. China’s democratization is a completely novel experiment in human history and is an experiment which cannot be allowed to fail. Abundant preparations must be made with planning first and action second. When the conditions are ripe, things should be pushed forward step by step. The building up of civic culture must fit together with the building up of systems. Only in this manner can twists and turns be lessened as much as possible. In the past, we have discussed civic culture, enlightened democracy, and have often been limited to publicizing democracy’s positives and how we should develop democracy. Admittedly, this is surely meaningful, but by itself is far from enough. Speaking of developing democracy, consciousness of the rules and regulations is even more important. This requirement begins with each of us by positively promoting the improvement of ordinary people’s democratic qualities, respect for others’ rights, a tolerant atmosphere including respect for dissenting views, the fostering of prudence in language and action, and the brave introspection associated with consciousness regarding responsibility. So long as we prepare abundantly in these areas, the implementation of democracy at all levels will follow as a matter of course.

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