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  4. China, 1976 to 89: Deng's reforms and Tiananmen

China, 1976 to 89: Deng's reforms and Tiananmen

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After Mao's death, Deng Xiaoping opened China's economy to the world. But he refused political freedom, as the events of 1989 showed.

After Mao

Mao died in 1976 and the Gang of Four was arrested.
Deng Xiaoping became China's leading figure by 1978.

Economic reform

Agriculture: collective farming was replaced by the household responsibility system; families could sell surplus crops, and output rose.
Industry: private businesses and foreign investment were allowed, especially in Special Economic Zones; privatisation and westernisation grew.
Education focused on science and technology.
Birth control: the one-child policy (from 1979 to 80) limited most families to one child.

Demands for democracy

The Democracy Movement (1978 to 79): posters on the Democracy Wall in Beijing called for reform. Wei Jingsheng called democracy the 'Fifth Modernisation' and was jailed in 1979.
University students protested in 1986.
In 1989 students occupied Tiananmen Square for weeks. On 4 June 1989 the army cleared the square, killing many people.
Worked example

Why did Deng allow economic freedom but not political freedom?

  1. He believed reform would make China rich and strong.
  2. But he wanted the Communist Party to keep total control.
  3. So he crushed demands for democracy, as at Tiananmen in 1989.

Answer: He wanted economic growth while keeping the Party's monopoly of power.

Key idea

After Mao's death (1976) the Gang of Four was arrested and Deng led China from 1978. Reforms: household farming, private business, Special Economic Zones, education for modernisation and the one-child policy. Political demands (Democracy Wall, Wei Jingsheng, students in 1986) were crushed, culminating at Tiananmen Square on 4 June 1989.

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