---
title: "Democratic Centralism Definition | Model Diplomat"
description: "Democratic centralism is an organizational principle of Leninist parties requiring intra-party debate and majority obedience. Key for political researchers."
url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/democratic-centralism"
---

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Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026

TL;DR

- Democratic centralism is the organizational principle requiring free intra-party debate before a decision, after which the minority must obey the majority and lower bodies must obey higher bodies.
- Who first formulated democratic centralism and where is it codified in China?
- What are the 'four subordinations'?
- How does democratic centralism differ from separation of powers?
- Why is the 'democratic' element considered weak in practice?

[Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services/glossary)Updated June 22, 2026

Democratic centralism is the organizational principle requiring free intra-party debate before a decision, after which the minority must obey the majority and lower bodies must obey higher bodies.

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At the 2017 19th CCP National Congress, "Xi Jinping Thought" was written into the Party Constitution and the Two Safeguards reaffirmed democratic centralism's demand that the whole Party obey the Central Committee with Xi at its core.

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