democratic centralization

A form of democratic centralism — A set of principles of internal organization, mainly associated with Leninism, in which political decisions reached by voting are binding upon all members of the party.

Meanings

noundemocratic centralization (uncountable)

alternative democratic centralism · alternative democratic centralisation

  1. alternativeuncountableAlternative form of democratic centralism
    3 more examples

    […] Diese organischen Verbindungen werden in der kommunistischen Parteiorganisation durch den demokratischen Zentralismus erstrebt. II. Ueber den demokratischen Zentralismus 6. Der demokratische Zentralismus in der kommunistischen Parteiorganisation soll eine wirkliche Synthese, Verschmelzung des Zentralismus und der proletarischen Demokratie sein. […]

    The organic unity in the Communist Party organization must be attained through democratic centralization. II. ON DEMOCRATIC CENTRALIZATION 6. Democratic centralization in the Communist Party organization must be a real synthesis, a fusion of centralism and proletarian democracy. […]

    “Leitsätze über den organisatorischen Aufbau der Kommunistischen Parteien, über die Methoden und den Inhalt ihrer Arbeit”, in Thesen und Resolutionen des III. Weltkongresses der Kommunistischen Internationale (Moskau, 22. Juni bis 12. Juli 1921.) (in German), 1921, page 107

    The Central Committee of the Party is to be entrusted with the ‘ fullest power and authority, and with far-reaching rights’. 'Iron discipline’ is required of the members. All these demands are founded upon the necessity for an absolutely rmanimous leadership of a revolutionary Party in time of civil war. This form of organization is given the name of ‘democratic centralization’ in view of the fact that the authority of the Central Committee of the Party should rest upon the confidence reposed in it by the members.

    1934 [1932], Arthur Rosenberg, translated by Ian F. D. Morrow, A History of Bolshevism, translation of Geschichte des Bolschewismus (in German), page 148

    Largely invisible much of the year, China’s non-Communist parties are thrust to the fore each March for a display of what the official news media calls China’s system of “multiparty cooperation and political consultation.” The news conference, held in a gilded meeting room in the Great Hall of the People, is an Orwellian affair, with party leaders referring to the wonders of “democratic centralization,” heaping praise on the Communist Party and then answering fawning questions from the state media.

    2013 March 12, Andrew Jacobs, Patrick Zuo, Shi Da, “Non-Communist Parties Lend China an Air of Pluralism, Without the Mess”, in The New York Times, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 15 Mar 2013, Asia Pacific
Cite this entry
APA

democratic centralization. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/democratic%20centralization

MLA

“democratic centralization.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/democratic%20centralization. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “democratic centralization,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/democratic%20centralization.

Source: democratic centralization on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.