The Construction of Representation through Consultative Legislation in China: The Case of Shanghai

Abstract

With the experimental implementation of Chinese socialist “whole-process people's democracy” (WPD) a new consultative mechanism emerges in China. This article seeks to investigate and dissect the hegemonic discourse on representation through participation in the local legislative consultations as a key part of the application of WPD in China. Based on qualitative study, this article explicates the challenges WPD faces in its specific socio-cultural context. By analysing the narratives of legislatory participation in light of theories of representation and in confrontation with local experiences, it argues that WPD currently cannot ensure comprehensive and effective people's representation. Intended to prevent disputes, it configures state-citizen interaction and coordinates forms of collective organization as production sites of normative knowledge and information flow to allow for increased responsivity of the party-state rather than expanding democratic autonomy. This significantly contributes to the sustained stability of socialist rule by providing diversified input channels and coopting certain segments of Chinese society.