A Comparative Analysis of Political Perceptions of China and the United States from International Public Opinion Surveys

ABSTRACT The Communist Party of China has led the Chinese people in creating their country’s system of governance. This is an outstanding achievement whose outcome contrasts with the “Western chaos” exemplified by the United States. In this regard, China, the United States, and the international community have analyzed and evaluated the political path, institutional mechanisms, democratic forms, and other factors behind the rise of China and the decline of the United States. The results of more than 40 recent studies conducted by more than a dozen of Chinese and foreign institutions show that in realistic terms, China has recorded a significantly better performance and shown greater potential for development than the United States in five areas: trust in government; democracy and the rule of law; the effectiveness of governance; international influence; and national mentality. In the future development process, China’s system of political discourse needs to be constructed on the basis of a correct concept of democracy and comprehensive development. It is necessary to end the monopoly of the West in the area of democratic discourse; to break from dependence on the logic of Western-style democratic discourse; and to enhance China’s initiative and influence in the international struggle for public opinion.