Beyond an elegant political slogan: Reading the mass line through the lens of methods

The mass line (ML) played a significant role in the history of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and was incorporated into the CPC's Constitution as the fundamental line for all work. However, to most people, the ML would sound more like an elegant political slogan than an effective method for solving problems. This paper interprets the essence of the ML as a philosophical method of knowing the world, a political method of leadership and a practical method of solving problems. In the new era of rule of law, the ML is also considered as an approach to democracy in China. The paper also criticizes some problems existed in the implementation of the ML and proposes some suggestions against the comparison with the Western political systems. The paper will provide readers with a more comprehensive understanding of the ML, and the political philosophy in modern China.