Is China more democratic than the West?

Process, procedure and the will of the people.

Written by Noah Carl.

It’s no secret that Donald Trump has not always strictly followed democratic norms. Soon after being declared the loser in 2020, he began condemning the election as “rigged”, “stolen” and a “fraud”, thereby flouting the principle of loser’s consent on which democratic systems depend. Of course, Trump didn’t start it. His entire first presidency was dogged by allegations of “Russian collusion”, with numerous Democrats calling the 2016 election “stolen” and Trump an “illegitimate president”.

Fortunately, no such allegations have tainted the 2024 election: America appears to be back on track. And whatever problems the country’s flagging democracy may face, Americans can take solace in the fact that their system is more democratic than that of China, the other power vying for global primacy. Right?