Introduction

The pro-democracy demonstrations of April-May 1989 heralded the awakening of public opinion in urban China; the brutal suppression in June revealed a Communist Party leadership severely out of touch with its own society and its aspirations.

Contributors and Context

The contributors to this timely book, a number of whom witnessed the events described, place these dramatic events within the broader context of China’s developmental experience.

Purpose and Scope

Rather than an instant reaction and description, however, this book grows out of the ongoing research interests and keen observational skills of the contributors. Therefore it provides a historical, developmental, societal, cultural, and political context for the tragic event in terms of their antecedents, ramifications, and impact on the history of the Chinese People’s movement.