What is the ultimate test of a political system?

China’s development over the past 40 years is closely linked to its philosophy of good political governance. Scholar Zhang Weiwei asserts that China’s rise may lead to a paradigm shift from ‘democracy versus autocracy’ to ‘good governance versus bad governance.’

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[HJ-dibo]

You know he is an expert when he can explain a complicated topic in the simplest manner that even ordinary people can understand.

[dailydata]

It makes me sick how little US and Europe know about China.

[captainmohadeb]

It doesn't matter what operating system you're using... As long as it's useful.

[EdwinaTS]

Good governance must indeed be the acid test of real life political systems rather than that of theoretical political systems.

[thundermouth]

I'm starting to get hooked into this series by Mr. Zhang Weiwei. More power to you Sir!👏

[ykdickybill]

As an Englishmen there are several things I cannot help but admire about China. Firstly, the state comes first, for it is the framework within which everyone must live .Second, people only progress into the upper echelons of power by ability, merit and proven results. I would also like to point out how polite and well behaved the Chinese students are in the city of York where I live. They are a credit to China.

[peteryeung]

Wow!
I'd learned more in this 7 minute video than anything I've watched about China's political philosophy.

[Mrvictory]

Very true, what matters is good Governance 😊

[MrVinnyable]

Mr. Zhang Weiwei, love these videos! please don't stop

[oldlordylord]

I like this professor, enough to actually comment. Im currently binging these videos. :)

[adtiamzon]

Good governance in the eyes of the people. 👏👏

[cklee]

Yes ..you have in very clear terms..explained that the test of a good government is whether the people are happy, satisfied and have security to live as a citizen of that place rather than all the abstract notions of what is democracy and human rights

[dennish]

What ever name we use to name a policial system is just a name. Of course each system has its own supportor and each had strength and weaknesses... In my mind democracy seem to be very good at maintaining stalemate but very slow with development.

Democracy devided their population to a few major policial parties and every few years they will put on a show for the average person.

But if you take closer look at their policial decision there is no major difference between them.... Because there are so many special interest group and lobbyist with "donation" most major decision will remain the same ....

What a waste of time!

[comradeproletariat]

Far too little credit given to the Communist Party of China and its Marxist-Leninist ideological roots to the rise of China. Why did China soar while Russia crumbled and crashed? It's because the Communist Party of China preserved Marxism-Leninism, adopted an anti-revisionist political philosophy, took the mass line seriously, and closely safeguarded political leadership.


Both China and the Soviet Union opened up their economies, but in very different ways. Deng ensured that the government remained in control of markets, whereas Gorbachev allowed markets to take control of the government. The end result was a host of self-interested business leaders who could care less about the people took power like Yeltsin, who destabilized and destroyed the Soviet model and plunged Russia and all other former SSRs into decades of poverty.


China should carefully remember the political legacy of the Soviet Union in its path to further development. Deviating from the mass line and deviating from Marxism-Leninist forms of political governance will only end in disaster, at the benefit of the West.

[bernardyeo]

The sun rises in the east and sets in the west. Well done China. Thank you Prof Zhang

[derhoffnungsvolle]

Mao Tse-Tung once wrote, that a new economy means also a new political system and culture. And a new political system means also a new economy and new culture. And new culture means new economy and political system.
That is the core of all systems. And economy has a very big influence on both political system and culture. If you change one of the big things, you change everything.
Reguarding to China, 1978 with introducing of a new economy and open-up policy, the culture and the political system have changed. A economy, which is consume-orientated and profit-orientated, the more is the culture, the thoughts of the people and the political system either human-orientated or not.
This is very important to understand.

[chriscox]

China is a shining example to all peoples of the world ❤🇨🇳

[StarSpawn]

Excellent point about Minyi (the fleeting public opinion) vs Minxin (the more stable public "heart") !
Previously, I've always thought it a shame that the way Imperial China was established practically stifled all thoughts of democracy in China for 2000 years. I still do.
However, of the political wisdom that has been preserved, such as explained by Dr Zhang, I now have profound respect for that wisdom.
In a subtle way, Chinese leaders have had an understanding of what an effective democracy should *really* focus on,
as opposed to the chaotic brand of so called "democracy" that the U.S. sells to the world.

[skychaos]

in short, the min xin of the chinese are about progression, growth and collected value of unification. while the west's min xin are about rights and freedom above all else. morally speaking, there is no right or wrong here. but realistically speaking, china's ways are more pragmatic and meritocratic which resulted its success. in comparison, the american's ways are less productive as their people think freedom and rights are absolute and without justification, should come for free. this resulted in its decline, as the world works hard and move past them, they remain noncompetitive and are fighting among themselves for their own ideologies, rights and handouts.

as the great man lee kuan yew once said, democracy makes sense only when 70% of its people are educated and have a strong idea to what they need to do to make their country successful. america(local born) unfortunately, are largely less educated and care more about their individual gains instead of progression as a whole. china's culture was never weak or bad, or else it would never had survived for over 5000 years. china had to crawl back from the unfortunate events of eight nation alliance and opium wars to finally be on its feet. this time it seems to be strong enough to deter evil doings against herself. china will soon be at the top, be the world order and i believe will be the greater good for everyone.

[stylophobia]

A key element of a healthy democracy is its ability to hold the powerful to account - where the lowliest individual can (in theory) depose a bad leader at the very top.
Obviously that theory is absurdly optimistic as the system has in recent decades proven open to gross distortion by monied primarily tax-avoiding interests, but it remains a notional moral strength of classic democratic models.