Democratic centralism

Democratic centralism is a Leninist democratic practice in which political decisions reached by voting processes are binding upon all members of the party.

In practice

In party meetings, a motion (new policy or amendment, goal, plan or any other kind of political question) is proposed. After a period of debate, a vote is taken. If one vote clearly wins (gaining 60% or above share if two options for example) all participants (the party) are expected to follow that decision, and not continue propagandising or otherwise working against it, aiming to act in unity. If participants still disagree, instead of splitting and forming another party as in Representative Democracy they are expected to table a motion for discussing the issue again. In the development of socialism in the Soviet Union and China, it was largely taken up in response to dramatic developments and violence which required faster mechanisms of making decisions. A constellation of practices surround this in order to encourage participation and debate, such as Don't Blame the Speaker.