People who wish democracy ill in Hong Kong have lost no time in jeering the pan-democrats' 'failure' to agree on a candidate for December's by-election. They see it as yet another sign of disunity and lack of leadership. I take a different view: I consider this a great learning opportunity, and I am glad the process has been open and transparent. That way it's an opportunity for all, since the Hong Kong public as well as its politicians can best learn about the democratic process by experience.
Democracy is not just about getting what some elitist group believes to be the right people into power. It is, even more, about a fair and open procedure for making decisions. It is about fair and open competition, with equal opportunity for all who may wish to come forward. It is about each candidate trying to persuade the electorate by reason and giving voters a choice. It is about a rational process of considering options and reaching a consensus, in peace and good order, on the basis of equal respect.
This emphasis on peaceful procedure and equality distinguishes democracy from tyranny. Tyrants and autocrats invariably believe themselves to be the best and fittest to rule. Therefore, they regard all participatory processes with mistrust and contempt.
Their aim is not to facilitate fair and open procedure, but to ensure that any unavoidable participatory process will not be allowed to affect the final outcome - already pre-determined by the self-appointed wise and the good. To reduce the chance of mishap, they always prefer secrecy; being honest with the public is seldom considered the best policy.
Indeed, the convoluted approach of the government's green paper on constitutional development reveals its true colours - in its resemblance not to democracy but its opposite.
By contrast, the pan-democrats not only declare their belief in democracy, but are also practising it in their approach to the by-election. No one should be discouraged from putting himself or herself forward as a candidate. At the same time, everyone who runs must be prepared to be critically assessed. It is clearly in the interest of the pan-democrats to put their united force behind a single candidate, because this provides the greatest chance to win. The obvious step now is to devise a selection process with fair and objective criteria that is open to all.
Testing candidates through a popularity poll could be one approach - or one element of the selection process. But there are also many other ways or elements that can be considered. The discussion about finding the right process is itself a valuable process, through which democrats learn and work together.