There Is No Socialism Without Democracy

Famous judgement put forward by Deng Xiaoping in his speech at the Party's theoretical work retreat in March 1979. It is a clear conclusion drawn by our Party from both positive and negative experiences in developing socialist democracy since the Reform and Opening-up, and it is a profound elucidation on the fundamental content of the Marxist theory of the state. According to Marxism, democracy belongs to the category of superstructure, which is built on and serves the economic foundation. The democracy created by capitalism, for the feudal system, is the progress of human civilization, but after all, it is built on the basis of and serves capitalist private ownership, thus with limitations. One of the essential characteristics of the socialist system that replaces capitalism is, to create more real and higher degree of democracy than capitalism; thus, democracy is the essential requirement of socialism. Without democracy, there can be no socialism, as socialism is an economic system in which the public ownership of the means of production takes the dominant position. Politically, it inevitably requires the people to enjoy the democratic rights to administer state affairs and social affairs; socialist democratic politics is the political guarantee and support for socialist material progress and cultural and ideological progress. Only by continuously developing socialist democracy can various socialist undertakings flourish; democratic political construction is an important content of socialist modernization. The more socialism develops, the higher its degree of democracy should be.

Socialist democracy is the newest, most extensive, and most comprehensive democracy in human history. It benefits all people and is embodied in all aspects of economic, political, cultural and social life in socialist countries. Socialist democracy is a process of continuous development and improvement. The road of socialist democracy with Chinese characteristics is to lead China towards prosperity, strength, civilization and harmony.