Behind the Tiananmen Massacre: Social, Political, and Economic Ferment in China

by Chu-yuan Cheng

Overview

The 1989 prodemocracy movement in the People's Republic of China and the subsequent crackdown were marked by many dramatic reversals. Supported at first by several thousand Beijing University students, the movement quickly attracted millions of followers and developed into a nationwide mass movement. The jubilant mood during the short-lived freedom in Tiananmen Square turned into despair over the unnecessary bloodshed. The event raised many deeply disturbing questions: Was the massacre necessary and justified? What is the historical significance of this movement? Which path will the PRC follow in the decade ahead? Although no one had anticipated the tragic outcome, the popular unrest was not totally unexpected. When I read the news of 200,000 Beijing students and residents, in open defiance of the government's order, staging a largescale demonstration on Apri120, I knew a confrontation between the people and the government was inevitable.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780429718991
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	09/17/2019
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	282
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

Chu-Yuan Cheng

Table of Contents

List of Tables and Illustrations – Preface -- 1 Introduction (The Social, Political, and Economic Ferment, 2 Different Interpretations of the Events, 5 Setting the Record Straight, 7 Notes, 11) -- 2 From Economic Reform to Social Unrest (The Reform Program, 13 The Open Door Policy, 18 The Social and Economic Consequences, 22 The Basic Contradiction, 25 The Mounting Crisis, 29 The Popular Demand for Change, 33 Notes, 35) -- 3 Ideological Schism and Power Struggle (The Power Structure, 38 Ideological Tenets and the Party Une, 43 The Unique Role of Deng Xiaoping, 47 The Ideological Confrontation, 52 The Struggle for Succession, 56 The Final Showdown of the Contenders, 60 Notes, 63) -- 4 Intellectual Challenge and Student Movements (The Role of Intellectuals, 68 The May Fourth Movement and Its Legacy, 71 Intellectuals Under Communism, 77 The Relaxation and Repression Cycles, 82 Challenges from the Intellectuals, 86 The New Student Movement, 91 Notes, 93) -- 5 Military and Politics (The Command Structure, 97 The Changing Role of the Army, 102 Decline in the Status of the Military, 106 Military Resistance to Reform, 110 Involvement in Factional Struggle, 114 The Military at the Crossroads, 117 Notes, 120) --6 The Making of the Massacre(Origins of the Student Protest, 122 From Student Demonstration to People's Movement, 126 The Behind-the-Scenes Power Struggle, 130 Preparation for the Crackdown, 133 The Great Massacre, 136 The Aftermath and Cover-up, 140 Notes, 144) -- 7 The Impact of the Bloodshed (The International Sanctions, 147 Overseas Chinese Responses, 151 Effects on the Domestic Economy, 155 Impact on Education and Culture, 159 Effects on the Relationship with Hong Kong, 163 Impact on the Relationship with Taiwan, 168 Notes, 172) -- 8 The Road from Tiananmen (The Causes of the Unrest, 175 The Far-reaching Effects of the Massacre, 177 Factors Determining the PRC's Future, 181 Alternative Scenarios, 191 Notes, 198) -- Appendix 1: Chronology (April 1S-July 15, 1989) -- Appendix 2: Profiles of Fifty Major Figures -- Appendix 3: Documents (“lt Is Necessary to Take a Clear Stand Against the Disturbances," 222 A Student's Eyewitness Account of the Tiananmen Massacre, 224 Deng's Talk on Quelling Rebellion in Beijing, 226 "Checking the Turmoil and Quelling the Counter- Revolutionary Rebellion," 231) -- Index