XinhuaCommentary:The"SummitforDemocracy"--Anexerciseincontradiction?_GuangmingOnlineBEIJING,March18(Xinhua)--Since2021,theUnitedStateshasconvenedthe"SummitforDemocracy"twice,withitsthirdinstallmenttakingplaceinSeoulfromMarch18to20.Ostensiblyclaimingto"combatauthoritarianism"and"supporthumanrights,"thesummittriggersquestionsaboutthecredentials,intentionandabilityofcertaincountriestoleadsuchaglobalinitiative.Democracy,initsessence,isnotjustapoliticalmechanismbutalsoabroaderculturalpracticethatrespectsdiversityandencouragesideologicalpluralism.Itisaboutfindingunitythroughdialogueandexchanges.However,thedomesticandinternationalactionsofsomebigWesternpowersoftenmirrortheveryauthoritarianbehaviorstheyclaimtooppose.TheWesterndemocraticsystemshowssignsofstrain.Domestically,itgrappleswithdeepeningsocialdivisionsandadisconnectfrompublicconcerns,suggestingasystemicmalfunction.ThechaosinsomeWesterncountrieshighlightthefragilityoftheirdemocracyandtheseverityofpoliticalpolarization.Internationally,someactionsoftenbetrayahegemonicimpulse.MilitaryinterventionsinIraqandAfghanistan,andeconomicsanctionsagainstdevelopingnationsareperceivedasendeavorstoadvanceselfishinterestsundertheguiseofpromotingdemocracy.Suchactionshavenotfostereddemocraticgrowthbutexacerbatedpolitical,economic,andsocialproblemsintheseregions.Therefore,the"SummitforDemocracy"shouldbeanopportunityforintrospectionandproblem-solving,ratherthanignoringthechallengeswithinWesterndemocracies.AstheSummitunfolds,it'simperativetorecognizethatdemocracycannotbeconfinedtoasinglemodelorusedasageopoliticaltool.Authenticdemocracythrivesonrespectfordiverseculturesandpoliticalsystems,andgenuineinternationalcooperationanddialogue.Insteadoflabelingothersas"authoritarian,"itisimperativeforcertaincountriestoobjectivelyassesstheirowndemocraticpracticesandfocusondevelopingeffectiveandinclusivedemocraciesglobally.■Editor:DisclaimerTheviewsandopinionsexpressedinthisarticlearethoseoftheauthor's,GMW.cnmakesnorepresentationsastoaccuracy,suitability,orvalidityofanyinformationonthissiteandwillnotbeliableforanyerrors,omissions,ordelaysinthisinformation.