"I don't think there are any meaningful democratic reform movements in China today. There are still protests--actually more than a hundred thousand take place every year--but protesters have more specific demands, e.g., environmental protection, property rights, etc., instead of demanding the right for political participation." ~Dr. Tao Wang
Dr. Tao Wang, Assistant Professor in Modern Chinese History, Iowa State University
"What was happening in China in the 1980s that sparked the desire for democratic reform? "Two important developments in the 1980s: --Beginning of China's economic reform and opening up to the world in late 1970s (1978 onward) exposed Chinese people to outside influences, e.g., Western systems and ideas. --Meanwhile, China's economic reforms gave Chinese people more autonomy, or some freedom in the field of economy. This gave people expectations for more political participation."
"These happened at a time when Chinese people in general had become disillusioned with Mao's socialism, and both the government and the society realized the old system must be reformed."
Originally it started out to be a peaceful protest for democratic reform. If it was peaceful then why did the government send in troops to stop the protesters? "The movement started as a spontaneous mass protest. The protesters actually had multiple requests. In addition to the request for more participation in policy making, many people wanted better conditions in universities, better pay to intellectuals, and especially an end of corruption and nepotism. When the protesters occupied Tiananmen, some Chinese leaders overestimated the seriousness of the situation and believed the protesters were manipulated by some 'conspirators' who aimed to overthrew the government and Communist monopoly of power. To defeat the conspiracy, the government declared martial law in Beijing and sent troops to enforce the law."
What impacts did this have on China during and right after the protests? "The incident indicated the limit of China's reform: while liberalizing the economic system, the government stuck to the political system, which demonstrates the nature of China's reform. Some would argue that by rejecting the public request for a more liberal system, China lost the opportunity to democratize itself." "China suffered diplomatic isolation after sanctions were imposed by most major countries; China's suppression of the protests demonstrated to the world the authoritarian nature of the Communist regime."
What kind of long-term impacts did the protests have on China? "Many people became disillusioned with the regime. While the channel to political participation was closed, people turned to the quest for economic profits--this led to the money worship from 1990 onwards." "The government has since attached greatest importance to the maintenance of social stability--from a different perspective, one may argue that the regime becomes more repressive."
How are the protests still impacting China today? What is happening today in China with the Democratic Reform movement? "I don't think there are any meaningful democratic reform movements in China today. There are still protests--actually more than a hundred thousand take place every year--but protesters have more specific demands, e.g., environmental protection, property rights, etc., instead of demanding the right for political participation." "The government would crush any public protest in its early stage, so that there is no way for it to develop into a major one. Since the late 1990s, the Chinese government has also tended to banish the political dissidents to limit their influence at home. So it is highly unlikely to have another major democracy movement. The Chinese people at the same time have realized the importance of a stable society. And many people seem to be satisfied with the improving life standards."