The Struggle for Tiananmen: Anatomy of the 1989 Mass Movement

(Hardback)

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This work examines the environment and events of the 1989 Tiananmen Square tragedy. The author argues that the mass movement, which climaxed in Beijing, can be understood only if attention is given to the external environment that provided both opportunities and constraints to the interactions of participating groups, to the shifting participants and their goals and interests, and to the historical and cultural factors which guided the behaviour of those participants (on both the student and government sides). "The Struggle for Tiananmen" describes and analyses the movement from its inception to its end - presenting the entire process, providing information from both the authorities and non-student participants, identifying the interactions between external events and the movement, and placing the particular event in the larger context of social movements. This work should be of interest to scholars in contemporary history, Chinese studies, sociology and political science.

Reviews

Her research and sourcing are excellent.-Choice
Numerous works on the 1989 Tiananmen Massacre have been published, but sociologist Lin analyses the democracy movement from a different perspective. Contextualizing the event, he concentrates upon the "external environment" that turned the initial student protest into a mass movement. In this slim book, the author provides a clear and concise analysis of the reforms launched by Deng Xiaoping since 1980 and traces the economic, social, and political consequences that resulted in discontent among the Chinese people. The massacre at Tiananmen is seen as a social movement involving multiple parties and various interest groups interacting dynamically with one another. Each chapter is succinctly and smoothly delivered, but as a whole, the book lacks focus because the author aims to please a wide spectrum of readers. Recommended for academic libraries.-Library Journal
Her research and sourcing are excellent.Choice
"Her research and sourcing are excellent."-Choice
"Numerous works on the 1989 Tiananmen Massacre have been published, but sociologist Lin analyses the democracy movement from a different perspective. Contextualizing the event, he concentrates upon the "external environment" that turned the initial student protest into a mass movement. In this slim book, the author provides a clear and concise analysis of the reforms launched by Deng Xiaoping since 1980 and traces the economic, social, and political consequences that resulted in discontent among the Chinese people. The massacre at Tiananmen is seen as a social movement involving multiple parties and various interest groups interacting dynamically with one another. Each chapter is succinctly and smoothly delivered, but as a whole, the book lacks focus because the author aims to please a wide spectrum of readers. Recommended for academic libraries."-Library Journal

Author Bio

NAN LIN is a Professor and Director of the Asian/Pacific Studies Institute at Duke University and his publications include Life Stress and Well-being (forthcoming), Social Support, Life Events, and Depression, Social Structure and Network Analysis, Foundation of Social Research, and The Study of Human Communication.