TIANANMEN SQUARE: POLITICAL BACKGROUND

HOW EVERYTHING STARTED

1. People protesting

      The Tiananmen Square protests and massacre were and still are an overly sensitive issue for a lot of people from all around the world, because whatever happened on the 4th of June had an impact to the entire world. How everything started though? Three people were the main reasons that led to the protests: Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping, and Hu Yao bang. 

     Everything started when Mao Zedong, who was known for founding the Chinese Communist Party, wanted to reform the economy of China. His plan is known as "The Great Leap" and it was supposed that it would help China surpass its Western competitors in the late 50s. The duration of his plan
was 3 years and the effects from it were disastrous. Around 45 million people died as a result of famine and punishments if they failed to achieve the goals of Chinese society. (Tiananmen: Explained / Tiananmen Square Protests 30th Anniversary, 2019)

2. People's requests

   After the death of Mao Zedong in the late 70s, Deng Xiaoping took his position and his thoughts on economic policies were more practical than Mao's. During his rule China did not only open to foreign markets but the diplomatic relations of the country improved.  Poverty levels started decreasing and China's GDP started increasing. This change led to the increase of prices and to an economic reform called "The Dual Track", that benefitted only those who were in higher economic and political positions. Moreover, Deng Xiaoping had a close advisor named Hu Yao Bang who was loved by the students because of his reformist views. Unfortunately, he was forced to resign after being tolerant when he had to deal with student's protest in 1986 and 1987 and two years later he died of a heart attack, without being able to make his plans of a democratic reform in China come true. (Jose Nino, 2020)

  All of these and in combination with Hu's death led to the perfect reason for students and to other citizens to start protesting.

 

References:

- Nino, J. (2020) The Deep Historical Background of the Tiananmen Square Massacre [Online], Available at The Deep Historical Background of the Tiananmen Square Massacre - Foundation for Economic Education (fee.org) (Accessed 24 February 2022)

- Tiananmen: Explained / Tiananmen Square Protests 30th Anniversary/ EXPLORE MODE(2019) YouTube, added by Explore Mode[Online]. Available at Tiananmen: Explained | Tiananmen Square Protests 30th Anniversary | EXPLORE MODE - YouTube [Accessed 24 February 2022]