第3章 Abstract

Abstract：This report primarily introduces the intellectual achievements of foreign scholars in critiquing Western democratic theory and practice. It analyzes and criticizes Western democratic model，laying a knowledge foundation for understanding the democratic stories of various countries historically，concretely，and developmentally. This report discusses the concept and connotation of democracy at three levels：political values，forms of government，and methods of governance. It analyzes the evolution of the concept of democracy—how it transformed from “rule by the people” to “people electing their rulers” in Western countries—as well as criticisms from foreign scholars regarding its distorted meaning. It reflects on the institutional drawbacks of Western democratic systems，the social consequences of their deficiencies，and the governance dilemmas through the perspectives of foreign scholars. Additionally，it analyzes the negative effects caused by some Western countries monopolizing the interpretation of “democracy” while forcefully exporting their model worldwide. The report argues that democracy is not a panacea for solving all social problems，and that Western-style democracy，with its many shortcomings，is not the only model for achieving democracy. At a time when the problems of Western-style democracy continue to be exposed，and democratic disorder，decline，and deficits are occurring worldwide，it is essential to recognize the unique advantages and valuable aspects of Chinese democracy. While strengthening cultural exchanges and mutual learning，we should firmly follow a path toward democratic development that suits China's conditions，exploring new paths for advancing humanity's cause of democracy.

Keywords：Western Countries；Democratic Decline；Critical Studies on Western Democracy