A Study On Citizens' Political Participation In The Process Of Building A Socialist Harmonious Society

The construction of a socialist harmonious society is important and strategic for China's modernization. The key point of the construction lays in the construction of the harmonious relationship, that means a harmonious relationship between social members, social groups, and between the government and citizens, so in this society citizens respect each other, tolerate each other and coordinate with each other.Since the open-up reform was carried out in 20th century, the diversification of the social members'benefits has been more and more obvious, and all kinds of interest groups are formed based on the same pursuing of benefit. Due to the lack of uncertain mechanism of expressing their benefits, the interest groups cannot obtain responsive solutions, and then a series of social problems arises and are threatening the social harmony. So it is necessary to promote the construction of socialist democracy, and the report of the seventeenth NPC made by President Hu Jintao mentions that"the construction of a socialist harmonious society should be carried out persistently by the assistance of the expanding citizens'political participation in an orderly way, such as their participation in administrative state affairs, economic, cultural and social affairs and in accordance with the law."All the above indicate citizens'participation in political affairs has become an important part of China's socialist democratic construction. Citizens'participation in political affairs refers to the cooperation between citizens or between citizens and government in an orderly and efficient way, from which the social harmony can be ensured. Through expanding citizens'participation, citizens'interest can be fully expressed, different interest groups can compete with each other and coordinate with each other and their interest can be presented in public decision, in turn the social conflicts and pressure will be eased, the legitimacy of the public power can be enhanced and the construction of China's socialist harmonious society can be speeded up.Based on the theory system of political participation and socialist harmonious society, this paper discusses their dialectical relation which is that they promote each other. And according to the history of the development of China's political participation, this paper summarizes the problems of China's public participation and the reasons of these problems. Lastly, by the guidance of some principles, it is essential to find out the constructional means to expand citizens'participation in political affairs and suggest some policies for realizing the institutionalized and orderly political participation.