The “universal values” of freedom and democracy is a product of the construction of modern liberal discourse. The Western discourse on “universal values” has established its exclusive right to define freedom and democracy through conceptual abstraction and content substitution, presenting a worldview centered on the modern West and a historical view centered on capitalism. Common human values require a balance between the commonalities and particularities of different eras and countries. Freedom should be reconstructed with relationship at its core, and there should be a return to the true meaning of democracy with people at the root. Freedom cannot exist without relationships; the scope of freedom varies according to the boundaries of different relationship frameworks, and the different positions within each framework would determine the varying degrees of freedom. Only collective action can bring about changes in relationships and achieve breakthroughs in freedom. Democracy demands a balance in the relationship between the individual and the collective, emphasizing solidarity rather than confrontation. This requires state power to serve the people and enable them to act as a coordinated body. While adhering to a people-centered orientation, it is also necessary to acknowledge the diverse choices made by the people of different countries based on their specific conditions.To promote common human values, it is essential to respect the diverse forms of human civilization and the various paths to modernization,and to ensure that the values of freedom and democracy serve the historical development of human societies.

　　Editor: Zhong Yao  Deng Panyi

　　From:World Socialism Studies.2024.No.6.