As we have seen in the readings of Gittings this week, the issue of democracy came to the forefront with the events of Tiananmen Square in 1989. The quiet rumblings grew into a peaceful (on behalf of the students) demonstration in the name of democracy. The unfortunate ending of suppression was a violent one at the hands of the government. One positive result of the massacre was the fact it brought the challenges of the Chinese people to the attention of the world.
These challenges may again gain national attention. With Beijing hosting the 2008 Summer Olympics, the question of democracy will be an added subplot. The government has already attempted to put on a good face by trying to improve the conditions of its workers with adjustments in over-time pay policies and social security in their favor.
The article "Whether at home or abroad, China is silent on matters of democracy" shows how the people of China are being conditioned to distance the issue of democracy from the games of the Olympics. Arrests (the classic form of Chinese political censorship) are still being made in attempts to suppress using the Olympics as a platform for democracy. Ironically the arrests may give a louder voice to their cause with the ears of the world listening.
1 comment:
What, exactly, is China's foreign policy? I'm at a loss as to what this country expects from its global neighbors.
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