“Political reform cannot be delayed any longer. Seeking to retain the Maoist political system while pursuing only economic reform will lead to a bureaucratic capitalism of the kind presided over by Chiang Kai-shek and the nationalists as they headed towards defeat. Only democratic constitutionalism can provide fundamental solutions to the party’s corruption problem. Only democratic socialism can save China”, Xie insisted.

As important as Xie’s views was the fact that they were published in a party-sanctioned journal. Within a few days, Premier Wen Jiabao responded to the call for European style social democracy with a front page article in the CCP’s mouthpiece, People’s Daily. While rejecting the argument that China should adopt European-style democracy, Wen sounded conciliatory by suggesting that one day, “socialism with Chinese characteristics” would include China’s own version of democracy.

Xie’s ideas are not a voice in the CCP wilderness. Many from the older generation of the party are making the case that without constitutional democracy and a genuine political empowerment of ordinary people, China would drift into a deeper political crisis.

“Three Consciousness”

As he wards of calls for radical reform from one end of the party spectrum and criticism from traditional leftists for abandoning old benchmarks, President Hu Jintao has focused on improving the ideological education of the party cadre and combating endemic corruption. Hu’s current emphasis is on raising the “three consciousness” of the party cadre. These are “ consciousness of living in dangerous times, their sense of duty as public servants, and the virtue of thriftiness.” It is by no means clear that Hu’s hopes on improving the individual morality of 71 million members of the CCP are a substitute for real political reform.

... contd.