Paper 1 & Deng

1. Describe the struggle for power following Mao, the emergence of Deng Xiaoping and the defeat of the gang of four.
• Deng regime sent troops into Beijing to suppress pro-democracy movements, post-Mao’s death.
• When Mao died, his widow and the Gang of Four continued to work. Deng led the “moderates”. Gang of Four blames Deng for problems. Zhou Enlai was in power but he died, power struggle for party began. Deng was in exile, needed to stay for Hua to be in control. Deng comes back, Hua is leader but underground struggle makes Deng eventual leader.
• Moderates take over eventually, under Hua Guofeng and then Deng. Deng uses friends to get power & works behind the scenes.
• Deng resigned in 1989 but is still a power.
2. Describe some of the economic policies and Four Modernizations for China under Deng.
• Four Modernizations to fix China, post-Cultural Revolution and other problems by Mao (4M: agricultural, industrial, technological, national defense). All of these had been destroyed by China’s history and were necessary to remain somewhat of a power.
• Deng brought some capitalism in (instead of sticking to just communism).
• Deng got rid of shared land (family communes) “responsibility system” & incentives (not communism!) to get work done, using production teams and shared land.
• All based around weakening central planning, introducing material incentives, and pricing policies.
3. What were the political changes and limits under Deng and how did these culminate in the Tiananmen Square conflict in 1989?
• Foreign policy changes (Sino-Soviet/American/Japanese)
• Deng tries to get rid of corrupt position-holders with education and salaries but ultimately this program collapses.
• Encourages demonstrations but does not follow through & protesters are arrested. Everyone is angry. Revolts occur later when possible.
• Public collected at Tiananmen to mourn Yaobang but it becomes a riot, and the army later attacks (famous photo).