The Traditional People-based Thought And The Construction Of Democratic Politics In Contemporary China

As an important part of Chinese traditional political thoughts, the traditional people-based thought had always been regarded as the guiding ideology to govern the country, preserve peace, moralize subjects and constraint monarchical power in China's long feudal society. It emphasized important position and role of people in the country. Basing on "people are the foundation" , it proposes a series of benevolent rule of virtue of protecting, raising and showing solicitude for the people. Despite its limitations, it had a profound impact and played an important role in history. In democratic politics in contemporary China, the traditional people-based thought also has its own unique social value. We need to study Chinese traditional people-based thought in depth and analysis its favorable and unfavorable factors, to provide possible and necessary reference for the construction of democratic politics in contemporary China.Firstly, this paper interpreted the development and connotation of the traditional people-based thought, combined the course of its development systematically and summed up its connotation, laying the foundation for understand the thought comprehensively. Secondly, this pqper made a comparative analysis between the traditional people-based thought and the democratic thought, demonstrating both the similarities and differences. They both have ideals of raising people, common measures to respect and care people, and same political view of fighting against tyranny and constrainting monarchical power. While there are essential differences between them in the economic base, the main power, the conditions, the strategies of ruling and so on. Thirdly, Again, on the basis of comparative analysis, this paper pointed out the contemporary values of the traditional people-based thought, that is, the reference democratic political construction of contemporary gets from the traditional people-based thought. First, the "people-oriented" political philosophy is the inheritance of the traditional people-based thought, but the meaning of people, the human status and the target are all beyong it; Second, the construction of the proposed service-oriented government is the development of the traditional people-based thought, but there are innovations in the political public relations and government functions; Third, citizens'participation in political affairs in an orderly way is the inheritance, while it has expanded in the subject, channels and participating areas. It can be said that the traditional people-based thought not only promoted the continuation of political civilization of the Chinese nation for thousands of years, but also is inherited and carried forward. Finally, in recognition of its contemporary value, the paper pointed its limitations in democratic politics in contemporary China. Firstly, thought of the people in the "official position" idea in the traditional people-based thought is not conducive to culture the concept of public servants; Secondly, the "subjects and emperor" idea led to the lack of civic and political consciousness. At the same time, the paper put forward corresponding countermeasures on how to criticise and inherit the reasonable resources useful to build the contemporary democratic politics. First, strengthening the institutional building, to provide institutional support for democracy; Second, joining the virtue into the rule of law, to provide the facility of law protection for democracy.In short, as a moral appeal, the traditional people-based thought is lacking in necessary procedures and system support. Its nature and limitations determine that it can not directly translate into democracy. However, as the essence of traditional Chinese political culture, the traditional people-based thought has its own value. In contemporary China's democratic political construction, we can not cut off the contact with it. We must boldly deny the negative factors of the traditional people-based thought, but also fully recognize its contemporary value, making it a useful complement to modern democracy, to provide better service for the democratic political construction of contemporary China.