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Desire for political reform was the most important reason for the events…
Desire for political reform was the most important reason for the events in Tiananmen Square in 1989. Discuss.
Discuss = offer a considered and balanced review that includes a range of arguments, factors or hypotheses; Evaluate differing factors and don't really take a definitive side; Just state the differing arguments
Historiography
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"Radical leaders wanted the square to wash with blood to make people understand the violence and oppression of the CCP"; Orville Schell
Perspectives
Also another factor why discontent against CCP resumed despite successful repression of dissodants in 1987, was bad for workers which inspired more people to join the student protests
Deng's moves to greater freedom for enterprises meant less state involvement in guaranteeing necessities for peasants and industrial workers, industrial workers lost food coupons, free healthcare/education and lost more jobs too
Inflation also soaring (prices for necessities increased by 30% in 1985), to stop this austerity measures were employed, reducing spending on social services and keeping wages low to further drop living standards
Worker's strikes (factory 'slowdowns') increased, whilst peasant darmers found the purchasing of fertilizer more difficult, rural industrial jobs lost, led to industrial and peasant workers clashing with officials, putting up 'big-character' posters in 1988-89, and helping to support the protests (even feeding them and giving the students water and popsicles); Helped maintain the size of the demonstrations even in the hot summer
April 1984; Reagan speeches about 'freedom' and 'trust in the people circulated despite Government censorship, helped create sense of pro-democracy with 17,000 strong student demonstration at the CUST in Hefei, calling for greater reform in 1985
CCP and Xiaoping had a long history of repressing criticism (especially from intellectuals); Seen in dissodants being ruthlessly crushed and jailed when they put up posters demanding democracy
Charles Lu Quote
Protests supported by intellectuals and children of high-ranking officials alike, CCP members Wang Ruoshui and Fang Lizhi made treatise and speeches stressing the importance of free-thinking and democracy to achieve freedom; Sparked larger demonstrations such as the 50,000 strong one in Shanghai in december 1986
CCP tried to repress this, Wang and Fang removed from the CCP and main ringleaders arrested as exams began in Jan 1987, General-Secretary Yaobang removed from post too due to supporting some of the student's demands for political liberalisation
However, Yaobang's death on the 15th of April 1989 reinvigorated the protests; Rumoured to be the result of his removal from office and the 'self-criticism' he underwent, tradition of 'mourning the dead to criticise the living' meant that students again began to demonstrate (Include Student Leader Li Liu's quote). Protests called for freedom of information; 100,000 stood in the square in silent protest on 22 April (Yaobang's funeral), more than 1 million lined the streets to watch the processions, pro-democracy activists boycotted uni classes.
Gorbachev visit was the 1st Sino-Soviet summit since 1959; World TV journalists and TV crew came to document it, Students understood that they could use the worldwide coverage to spread more awareness for the freedom fight in China
When he arrived on 15 May 1989, there were around 1 million people protesting in the Swuare calling for Deng's resignation and reform, despite being asked to disperse
Protests so big that Deng was forced to reconfigure the event; No 21 gun salute in Tiananmen, reception moved to the airport, tour of Forbidden City cancelled, Gorbachev stayed indoors bc the motorcade couldn't get around - big embarassment for the CCP
18th May, hardliner Li Peng had meeting with student leaders, continued to raise awareness for the demonstration (Western Media saw it as like Woodstock), also sparked reinvigoration with Peng's dismissive attitude countered by the student leaders wwho dared to chastise Peng; 'We are not your children, and you are not our parent. We are citizens, and you are our official"
Deng spent more money and empahasis on improving specialist schools and higher education, instead of providing a good basic education for all (like Mao), students concerned for the lack of jobs for graduates as the Chinese economy slowed down in the 1980s; The fact 2 years of assigned labour was necessary before graduates could start work and that 30% of them had to accept jobs assigned by the government was seen as measures to limit student access to dissident intellectuals and lecturers
Protests began in 1988 demanding more opportunities for graduates and better conditions for non-specialist education (grants to be increased), as well students demanded better cafetaria food, better dorm conditions, and more funding in 1989
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Paragraphs
Xiaoping's economic reforms decreased living standards to increase discontent in workers; Led to the protests actually continuing and becoming significant
Students sick of being arrested just for experessing disapproval and wanted 'democracy' and more freedom, sparking student protests
Students wanted to use the global platform brought by Gorbachev's planned visit to convey their desire for freedom and democracy in China; Student protests would attract media
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Note: In introduction, frame that you will be discussing the factors leading up to the protests; Not the massacre itself