Democracy vs. Plutocracy

American political thought is inherently atomistic. It views individuals as isolated entities endowed with inalienable rights to pursue their own interests. This philosophy legitimizes relentless competition, resulting in a small number of winners and a vast majority of losers. Those who succeed consolidate power by forming political parties, each vying for influence in the name of representation. Elections become the mechanism through which these parties alternate control, redefining political donations, lobbying, and media campaigning as expressions of free speech. As a result, elections grow increasingly ideological, dominated by those who control the media and can manipulate public opinion. This leads to policies that disproportionately benefit the wealthy.

With elections vulnerable to financial influence, misinformation, and character attacks, American politics has grown increasingly contentious. Elected officials often prioritize attention-grabbing rhetoric over governance, serving donors and seeking re-election rather than advancing the public good. The constant shifts in party control produce wild policy swings, making long-term planning nearly impossible. Each administration tends to overspend, borrow excessively, and print money to boost its short-term popularity, leaving economic fallout for its successors. Partisan gridlock undermines effective governance and deepens social division. Yet, despite its dysfunction, many Americans continue to view this system as the only viable form of democracy.

In practice, the American system functions more as a partisan democracy than a people’s democracy. A growing number of scholars argue that it has evolved into a plutocracy—rule by the wealthy and well-connected. Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz famously described the U.S. as a nation “of the 1%, by the 1%, and for the 1%.” Political elites, bankrolled by special interests, often ignore the needs of the majority. The consequences are stark: the U.S. has the highest levels of inequality in the developed world, a COVID-19 death toll 170 times greater than China’s, and an infection rate 1,600 times higher. Financial mismanagement has led to a national debt exceeding $30 trillion, much of which has benefited private contractors and corporate subsidies. Social issues—from racial conflict and poverty to drug abuse and gun violence—underscore the system’s failures. With only a quarter of the population of China or India, the U.S. nevertheless has the world’s largest prison population. Its healthcare system is the most expensive globally yet remains out of reach for many. Retirement ages are among the highest, burdening the elderly. (According to the U.S. Life Insurance Guide, the average retirement age is 67.9 for men and 66.5 for women, compared to China’s 60 for men, 55 for female white-collar workers, and 50 for female blue-collar workers.) Public education is declining, infrastructure is aging, and the country has been at war for 229 of its 245-year history. These conflicts, often justified by appeals to "American values," sustain military spending, arms sales, and global influence—primarily serving entrenched interests. While this is called democracy, the average American has little say in decisions that shape their lives.

In contrast, Chinese political thought is holistic. Human rights in China emphasize collective well-being over individual autonomy. These rights include coexistence, equality, cooperation, and social harmony, along with personal freedom. Unlike the American view of individuals as independent actors, the Chinese see people as interconnected members of society, bound by mutual responsibilities. Confucian values promote community over self, encouraging consensus-building, ethical conduct, and the prioritization of communal interests to maintain social stability. (See Understanding China: Geography, Confucianism, and Chinese-Style Modernization.)

China practices a form of people’s democracy rather than partisan democracy. While individual interests vary, governance is expected to reflect the collective will of the vast majority. China’s 5,000-year governance tradition highlights both the dangers of factionalism and the value of unified political leadership. The Communist Party of China (CPC), with nearly 100 million members, places national interest above partisan agendas. Leaders are selected every five years through the CPC National Congress and the National People’s Congress, with criteria emphasizing character, competence, and proven achievement—not rhetoric or ideology. Policy-making involves research, public consultation, and careful planning to address both immediate needs and long-term goals. Unlike in the U.S., where special interests dominate, the Chinese government aims to build a just and harmonious society guided by shared prosperity. The political system incorporates mechanisms such as collective leadership, term limits, anti-corruption initiatives, public supervision, and internal discipline to ensure accountability and prevent authoritarianism.

These divergent understandings of human rights shape how each country addresses major issues. For example, Americans viewed COVID-19 precautions as a personal choice, favoring individual liberty over collective protection. In China, public health took precedence, and temporary restrictions were accepted for the greater good. Americans often see gun control as a violation of personal freedom; the Chinese see strict firearm laws as a necessary safeguard of public safety. In the U.S., regulation of business is seen as an infringement on economic freedom, while in China, such regulation is seen as essential to reduce inequality. Intellectual property in the U.S. is tightly protected, often stifling access and innovation; China emphasizes shared technological advancement to accelerate national development. And while the U.S. frequently invokes individual rights to justify interventions abroad, China regards such actions—including the incitement of color revolutions and wars in the name of democracy—as violations of national sovereignty and human rights.

No political system is immune to failure. History teaches that if a nation fails to confront its ideological, institutional, and systemic flaws, decline is inevitable. The dominance of special interests—such as corporate lobbies and the military-industrial complex—erodes democratic legitimacy and public trust. Drawing from China’s long history, the collapse of a democracy under the weight of corruption and plutocracy may take less than three centuries (see The Vicious Circle of Regime Change). This is why Chinese political culture values collectivism and egalitarianism over individualism. As China rises, Confucian values are poised to play a larger role in shaping global political thought—an evolution worth noting and, perhaps, celebrating. (See Pluralism vs. Monism.)