Democracy Movements, 1978, 1986, 1989

Political Unrest in Deng Era

*Democracy Wall Movement

Spontaneous movement, Nov.-Dec. 1978

Political uncertainty at top of CCP

*Wei Jingsheng

*“The 5th Modernization”

Suppressed in mid-January 1979

Wei arrested in late March 1979

Why did Wei’s trial represent a change from Cultural Revolution practices?

Deported to U.S., 1997

Update on Wei

Deng Xiaoping’s Policies

Public: *“Four Modernizations,” 1977

Private: CCP Theoretical Discussion Meeting, 1979 (Prisoner of the State, p. 162)

“Four Cardinal Principles”

Socialist Path

People’s democratic dictatorship

CCP leadership

Marxist-Leninist-Mao Zedong Thought

Anti-Spiritual Pollution Campaign in 1983

Student protests, Dec. 1986-Jan. 1987

“Democracy,” end to corruption, better living conditions

Suppression of movement

“Anti-Bourgeois Liberalization Campaign,” 1987

Hu Yaobang and prominent proponents of free expression purged

Central Committee Resignations

*Hu Yaobang

Resigns as CCP secretary-general

*Deng Xiaoping, "resigns"

Retains Chair of Central Military Commission

Senior “state planners”

Chen Yun and Li Xiannian

New President

Yang Shangkun replaces Li Xiannian

According to Zhao Ziyang, why did Deng Xiaoping force Hu Yaobang to resign? Who held the most power in the new political alignment?

New Politburo Standing Committee

*Zhao Ziyang, Secretary-general of the CCP

*Li Peng, Premier

Energy technocrat

3 others

Economy, 1980s

Premier Zhao Ziyang manages opening

Prisoner of the State, pp. 101-13

Rapid growth

10.2% annual growth in GCP, 1980-90

3% in US in same period

Problems

Zigzags in policy

State planning vs. Free markets

Poor planning

ex: Grain quota prices

Reduced grain production and increased sugar and tobacco

Inflation in 1984 and 1988

20% annually in 1980s

Transition from planned to market pricing

Prisoner of the State, pp. 127-33

Shortages and bureaucracy

Corruption

Prisoner of the State, pp. 155-58

Democracy Movement, April 17-June 4, 1989

Sources of Most Photos Shown in Class:

https://www.bbc.com/news/in-pictures-27410482

https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2014/06/1989-tiananmen-square-protests-photos/100751/

Student goals

Political reform

End of corruption

Pretext

*Hu Yaobang, d. April 15, 1989

Memorial April 17

Models of protest

May 4th Movement

*Zhou Enlai, d. Jan. 1976

Mourned April 1976

According to Zhao Ziyang, why were the students mourning Hu Yaobang? (Prisoner of the State, pp. 4-5)

Tiananmen in Beijing

Boycott of classes, April 24

People's Daily: "planned conspiracy," April 26

Growing loss of government control, mid-May

Occupation of Tiananmen Square & Hunger strike, May 13

Media freedom

High of 1 million protesters

Protests spread throughout Chinese cities

Inflation

Corruption

Month of gridlock in central government

Gorbachev visit, May 15

Factional conflicts in Politburo

Martial law declared, May 20

Beijing garrison troops ineffectual

Provincial troops move on Beijing, June 3 and 4

Commanders personally loyal to Deng Xiaoping and President Yang Shangkun

Massacre, June 4

Zhao Ziyang, Prisoner of the State, pp. 3-49

1. How does Zhao Ziyang explain the reasons for the declaration of martial law and massacre?