Former Italian Ambassador to China Alberto Bradanini, whose diplomatic career spans over four decades across Europe, Latin America, and Asia, has reignited global conversations about governance with his assertion: \"The debate over democracy is as old as the world… but beyond the meaning of the concept, we must be careful that the form also matches the substance.\"
In a recent interview, Bradanini emphasized that effective governance requires alignment between institutional frameworks and the cultural-economic realities of societies. \"Models can’t be copy-pasted,\" he noted, drawing from his experience observing political systems worldwide. His analysis comes as global audiences increasingly question traditional Western-centric narratives about democracy.
The diplomat highlighted how different governance approaches coexist in the modern world, including what he describes as \"socialist democracy with Chinese characteristics\" in the Chinese mainland. While avoiding direct comparisons, Bradanini stressed all systems must \"evolve with their people’s needs\" to maintain legitimacy.
Young global citizens will find his insights timely, as debates intensify about equitable global governance and pluralistic political models in an increasingly multipolar world.
Reference(s):
Looking into China: Democracy's form should match its substance
cgtn.com
