Peace Programs


China Program


What impact has this initiation of democracy at the village level had on citizens' attitude toward government and on Chinese politics in general?
 
The massive participation of rural citizens in local elections speaks for itself. The widespread popularity of these elections led to a revision in Chinese law to include procedures that guarantee electoral openness, fairness, and competitiveness. The changes forbid local Communist Party committees from intervening in the nomination phase and encouraged more elected village officials to challenge party control in the villages. The success of village elections also prompted experiments of public election of township leaders — the next highest level of government — in three provinces.