represent dialectical opposites within a singular entity; they are simultaneously contradictory and united. Mao thus argued that neither element should be unilaterally emphasized to the exclusion of its counterpart. From a communist perspective, both freedom and discipline, as well as democracy and centralism, are considered essential for successful governance. The cohesive unity of these pairs--democracy with centralism, and freedom with discipline--constitutes the principle of democratic centralism.

Chinese political scientist Wang