The issue of Technology and Democracy – the subject of this Seminar - has echoes from the past.

 

Today we are talking about the web, the internet, SMS, Facebook and other modern instant forms of people to people communication and its consequences for democracy. Yesterday we were talking about the Printing Press.

 

The printing press was one of the most important inventions in the world and it changed the way society evolved in a significant and far-reaching manner.

 

The printing press was created in China. It was developed in Europe in the 15th Century by Johannes Gutenberg whose newly devised hand mould made possible the rapid creation of metal movable type in large quantities. His two inventions reduced the cost of printing books and promoted a big increase in reading among the middle class and the working class 

 

The sharp increase in literacy broke the monopoly of the literate elite on education and learning and bolstered the emerging middle class. Across Europe, English, French and German languages replaced Latin as the main language of communication.

 

Economic, social and cultural changes in late medieval society in Europe gave momentum to Gutenberg's improved version of the printing press: the entrepreneurial spirit of emerging capitalism accelerated changes in the medieval methods of production and traditional work processes. The middle class, empowered by the opportunity to absorb and then engage in political argument, were becoming literate, knowledgeable and educated. They were reading and writing and asking questions about the format of existing society. The technological breakthrough of the printing press armed the people with knowledge and information and the power of the ruling elites was challenged.

 

 

Each country has its own democratic character which is a reflection of its own historical journey. China has one path and the UK has another path. It is not an issue of which system is better but which system helps the progress and development of the respective peoples.

 

What is in place in the UK reflects the UK’s political journey from Autocracy to Democracy. From Government by an all-powerful autocratic King to Government by a Party elected by on the basis of “one man-one vote” and five year National Elections. In 1215 King John had some of his autocratic powers removed by the feudal Nobles and Barons and the remaining powers were removed by the Civil War of 1642-1649 and the Great Reform Act of 1832. Further changes in the voting rights of the people removed the property qualifications attached to the right to vote in 1949. Today the UK system of government is characterised by universal voting, regular Parliaments and the Separation of Powers between the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary.

 

China’s system, born out of Three Civil Wars and the Patriotic War against Japan, is quite different. The people do vote to send deputies to the National People’s Congress who have a role in supervising the executive power of the Government. Alongside the democratic mandate there also exists the leading role of the Communist Party which applies the Leninist concept of democratic centralism to create a process of ever-present exchange of policy discussion and review to ensure the implementation of policies by Party and Government that reflect the needs and wishes of the people.

 

China has had its successes. 1bn people have been lifted from poverty. People have clothes to wear; holidays to enjoy; overseas trips to take (for 140m people in 2019); a rising standard of living and the expectation that in just a few years the 1949 Sick Man of Asia will become the largest economic power in the world.

 

Today all countries face challenges from the opportunity created by technology to enable people to engage in instant communication of ideas, plans and arrangements. In the UK the climate protestors have engaged in disruptive street protest to force a change in government policy on the environment. Many climate idealists have been arrested as they interfere with the movement of traffic, delay trains and even board ships in pursuit of their own policies to change the direction of climate worldwide. Much of their preparation is undertaken in secret through the use of email and instant messaging. Often the protestors outsmart the Government.

 

The challenge for China is how to ensure that the progress in technology is not used by China’s opponents to disrupt the work of Government – whether it be the Party or the Government. China cannot afford to allow its achievements in raising living standards to be put at risk by the actions of citizens of China who are opposed to aspects of China’s policies in China – be it the hours of people’s work or the allocation of housing or the development of transport or the determination of some to speak out and undermine the day-to-day work of government.

 

 

But here there is a contradiction between Democracy and Centralism. The starting point is that China needs ideas and discussion among the people to bring about the policies that need to be introduced to further advance the cause of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics. ‘Seeking Truth from Facts’ is the basis for the scientific investigation of all policies; it is a process of argument and debate to develop policies that are in accordance with the needs and wishes of the people. This is the positive side of democracy, and technology and the instant publication of ideas and opinions will strengthen the democratic debate among the people about the good and bad options for going forward.

 

 

China, therefore, needs to distinguish between critics and opponents. Critics are people with a different view to the orthodox view. They see things differently. They are loyal Chinese citizens who support the Party and the Government but on some issues they just have a different point of view. That is understandable. It is natural. Why should all the people agree on everything all the time. Life is not like that. There are always differences and the Party and State leaders should recognise this, allow for this, encourage this. Differences are to be expected and should be embraced as the necessary process of debate, discussion, agreement and implementation.

 

 

There is no such thing as absolute freedom. We are free to breathe fresh air as we walk, unhindered, down the streets and in the parks but if we seek to pollute the air or interfere with other people’s right to take a stroll, we must expect to be stopped, even arrested and imprisoned. Freedom has its limits and every government has an obligation to enforce the laws of the country so long as those laws are considered to be in the best interests of the people.

 

Technology is a great invention. It can be used to promote human progress and to improve the well-being of all peoples. It can have far-reaching positive consequences for mankind. But in the hands of determined opponents with anti-Government political goals, technology can be abused so Governments need to be alert to the challenge. They need to do two things; First, widen the reach of information technology to include people who may be isolated, lonely and untrained in how to use the fast expanding forms of instant communication. Government should make available technical training and the equipment to enable more people to use the technology. Second, Government should increase its vigilance against opponents of the Party and the Government who will use the expanded technology to pursue their own anti-Party and anti-Government activity.

 

At the end of the day Technology is a Political Question.