通过市民社会走向民主法治社会

中国社会现代化的基本走向应是建设民主与法治相统一的民主法治社会。建设现代民主法治社会的一个关键条件是独立于政府的社会民间组织的成长，以形成对政府和公权力有效制约和制衡的力量。市民社会就具有这样的特征和社会功能，并且中国市场经济的发展也为构建市民社会提供了契机和条件。在缺乏民主法治传统的中国，可以在发展市场经济的过程中，构建市民社会，为建设民主法治社会奠定基础。

MOVING FROM CIVIL SOCIETY TOWARDS DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY UNDER THE RULE OF LAW

The basic trend of China＇ s social modernization is to build a society which integrates democracy and the rule of law. A key condition to building such a society is the growing up of social civil organizations independent of government in order to check and balance the power of government and authority. Civil society does have this kind of feature and social function. Additionally, the development of China＇ s market economy provides opportunities and conditions for the construction of civil society. Therefore, despite the absence of democracy and the rule of law in China＇ s tradition, it is possible for us to build a civil society, lay the foundation and open the way for a modem democratic society under the rule of law in the process of developing China＇ s market economy.