Danwei links to the first mention of Tiananmen in Chinese state media. In English, too. Here we go:
“It [the ’80s] was the age of enlightenment and almost a turning point for China’s political transition,” said Chen Zhigang, former Washington bureau chief of Hong Kong-based Sing Tao Daily.
June 4 Incident broke out in 1989 and after that intellectuals in China “switched to silence”, according to Zhang Liping.
Incident, as in Mass Group, is AFAIK the official term, not “counterrevolutionary turmoil” which I’ve seen crop up in a few reports on the 20th anniversary. "Counterrevolutionary" hasn;t been in the state lexicon for a decade or so. But mainly, until now, it’s not been mentioned at all. If there is going to be discussion about Tiananmen we need to look at what attempts are being made to frame it within acceptable limits. Anyway, we left Chinese intellectuals a bit down in the dumps.
“Deng’s speech reignited people’s hope and restored their confidence,” said Zhang Liping.
I think must have gone something like: OK kids, you’re not grounded any more, so go and play out. But Uncle D says mind how you go, OK? Anyway, the initial pitch seems to be that it’s what old man Deng would have wanted.
After 1989, intellectuals became “more moderate and rational,” Zhang Liping said. “People realized that China would not change overnight.”
So we all turned into whigs. Even so…
Free bonus: extra party political currents acknowledged by Chinese state media. And finally:
“Intellectuals should not blindly cater to a specific group, no matter majority or minority, but view society in a rational way and help China find a road that fits with the actual situation,” Zhang Yiwu said.
The influence of China’s intellectuals can be seen in exemptions from agricultural tax, investment in village health care, education and infrastructure systems, education reform and social security system reform, said Wang Hui, an intellectual historian and Tsinghua University professor at an academic forum in Geneva.
“People are more mature now,” said Zhang Yiwu. “They no longer think Western thoughts are China’s ultimate goal.” Several times during her interview, Zhang Liping emphasized that “radical reform or revolution is extremely insecure and does not work in China.”
Final takeout: Acknowledging Tiananmen can contribute to a wider social process reinforcing the legitimacy of Party rule. The article is a rough blueprint of the process.
I also recommend Danwei’s, unkind treatment of Schwerpunkt from the same post.
What 'French theoreticians' in the 1990s were advocating a process of capitalist industrialisation orchestrated by a single-party state? Or is it more likely to be the kind of anything goes 'democracy is just another metanarrative' style pomo stuff that was floating around.
Posted by: Nick L | June 03, 2009 at 12:42 AM
It's all a bit "reason and moderation must be tempered by realism and common sense", isn't it - like watching a vicious faction fight in the SDP, only more so.
Posted by: Phil | June 03, 2009 at 10:22 AM