The Lakshman Kadirgamar Memorial Conference on Indo-China Relations :

Stimulating thoughts

by Rajiva Wijesinha

(Continued from Dec. 20)

Yet, as we can see from the manner in which the Chinese communist party has evolved into a collective leadership, and also from the policy changes that have been discernible recently, it is possible to empower people to facilitate political change even within a one-party system.

This may mean that change will be incremental, and that may seem inadequate in particular contexts. But since we have more often than not suffered from radical shifts which came as a package deal because of the composition of a particular political party, whereas it was not clear that all such shifts were the choice of the people, we should recognize that the Chinese system too has its advantages.

In this light we should perhaps consider the positive features also of the American system, which does not encourage the entrenchment of a particular leader. Presidents are elected for fixed terms, and after they vacate office a new dispensation takes over. Indeed, even though a President is recognized as the leader of his party during his term of office, this certainly does not give him absolute power over its members.

Again, to reach that position, he has to take into account a multiplicity of interests, which will generally ensure continuing attention to the citizenry at large rather than his own agenda. Of course there are exceptions, as may be seen with George Bush, but by and large American presidents cannot be described as authoritarian, as happens so often with those who emerge as leaders through a British style system.

Certainly we have suffered from leaders, albeit elected democratically, who then dominated both the country and the parties that had brought them to a position of leadership. Given authoritarian tendencies and precedents in this country, I do not think a one party state would be at all desirable. But we should certainly recognize the democratic elements in the Chinese Communist Party, and seek ways in which internal party democracy can be developed in this country. Otherwise, despite exercising the franchise, we could as so often in the past find ourselves powerless.