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China's Student Protest 1989

Digital Resources/Online E-Resources

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  • Title:
    China's Student Protest 1989
  • Author: Parker, Franklin ; Parker, Betty
  • Subjects: Activism ; Change ; China ; Communism ; Current Events ; Democracy ; Demonstrations (Civil) ; Foreign Countries ; Modern History
  • Description: The Chinese university students who protested in Spring 1989 were concerned about inflation, shortages of goods and services, and pay inequities. They disliked corruption, bribery, and unfair favoritism, and wanted more press freedom and more independence for their student organizations. Most of all, they wanted more dialogue with aging leaders about their role in China's future. Low-paid or jobless city dwellers felt a common cause with protesting students. Farmers, who were far removed, adopted a wait-and-see attitude toward student protests. The leadership was split. Deng Xiaoping, outraged by the protests and alarmed that further unrest would wreck economic advances, wanted student protests crushed. Moderates, preferring reconciliation with students, were headed by Zhao Ziyang, who counseled against violent suppression. On May 17, Deng won the Politburo Standing Committee vote for military suppression, and the students were bloodily evicted from the square on June 4. Fall 1989 university enrollments nationwide were cut 5 percent. All students had to attend political re-education classes. Faculty at Beijing University and elsewhere had to attend Communist political study sessions. The clash and the military put-down discredited the Party in student minds and hearts. The hopes that impelled intellectuals to support Communism were shattered. The urban population at least is disillusioned. Farmers, slower to change, will likely side ultimately with urban intellectuals moving toward democracy. (JB)
  • Creation Date: 1990
  • Format: 8
  • Language: English
  • Source: ERIC Full Text Only (Discovery)

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