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The Role of Protests in China, Research Paper Example

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Implications of The Great Leap Forward, Tiananmen Square protests, and Zero COVID-19 protests to China’s stability

Introduction

This research examines the validity of Chinese protests as a form of biological warfare against the Communist regime. By exploring case studies such as the Great Leap Forward, Tiananmen Square, Cultural Revolution, Uyghur, and Zero COVID-19 protests, we can determine if there is a correlation between the protests and challenging the authority of China’s Communist Party. This research will analyze how the Chinese government has handled these protests and whether or not they effectively curbed poor policies and regulations of the Communist party. Through literature reviews, case studies, research designs, and hypothesis testing, we can conclude the effectiveness of Chinese protests in establishing political change.

Case study 1: The Great Leap Forward

The Great Leap Forward was a campaign initiated by Mao Zedong in 1958 that aimed to rapidly transform China’s economy from an agrarian parsimony to a modern, socialist society. The protests also highlighted the disregard for civil rights and human rights under the Chinese Communist Party, as the protesters were not given any voice in the decision-making process. This campaign was met with strong opposition from the Chinese people as it caused massive famine and land mismanagement (Adedoyin, Festus, et al. pg23-36). The protests against this policy were quickly suppressed by the government, leading to a lack of success in challenging Mao’s authority.

These protests caused threats to China’s stability in several ways. First, the mismanagement of land and resources led to a lack of food supply in China. This caused mass starvation and death, leading to a significant decrease in the population and an economic downturn. Additionally, the suppression of protests demonstrated the government’s disregard for human rights and its commitment to controlling the population. Finally, the failure of this campaign revealed to other nations that challenging the Communist party was unlikely to result in any meaningful change. The protests also caused threats to western countries due to Mao’s power remaining unchallenged. First, Mao was seen as an aggressive and anti-western leader, causing many western countries to view him with suspicion. Second, his unchallenged power led to further human rights abuses, which many western countries found unacceptable.

Case study 2: Tiananmen Square

Tiananmen Square protests were a series of demonstrations and protests that took place in Beijing’s central square in 1989. This protest was initially sparked by the death of pro-reform and pro-democracy leader Hu Yaobang, who was removed from power in 1987. The protests were met with a strong response from the Chinese government, leading to a violent crackdown by the Chinese military. This event served as a reminder of the Communist Party’s commitment to controlling its population and disregard for civil rights and human rights.

The Tiananmen protests were a threat to China’s stability in several ways. First, the demonstrators challenged the Chinese Communist Party’s authority and posed a significant risk to their rule. Second, the violent response by the government demonstrated its commitment to controlling its population and revealed the lack of freedom for citizens in China. Finally, this event showed other nations that challenging authority was likely to be met with violence, hurting China’s reputation abroad. The protests also threatened western nations due to China’s increasing power. First, the protests brought attention to China’s violation of human rights, leading many western countries to become more critical of their relationship with the nation. Second, the repression of protests demonstrated to other nations that challenging Chinese authority was unlikely to result in any meaningful change, leading to potential distrust of the Chinese government. Finally, China’s increasing power due to this event caused many western nations to worry about their security. As such, the Tiananmen Square protests posed a significant threat to China’s stability and the safety of other nations.

Case study 3: Zero COVID-19 protests

In 2020, as the global pandemic began to take its toll on China, many citizens started to express their discontent with the government’s handling of the virus. Protestors began to gather in public spaces and demand that the government takes further steps to protect the health and safety of its citizens, leading to a string of Zero COVID-19 protests.

These protests affected China’s stability in different ways. Initially, it demonstrated to the world that the Chinese government was not immune from criticism. This caused a decrease in confidence in the Chinese government’s ability to effectively handle the pandemic, leading to a decline in China’s international standing and reputation. Furthermore, these protests revealed that the Chinese administration was unable to safeguard its citizens from the viral infection, further eroding public trust. Furthermore, these protests also increased the Chinese government’s efforts to control its citizens and limit their freedom. This was seen in the increased censorship of social media and other platforms, as well as an increase in the surveillance of citizens. As such, these protests demonstrate the government’s willingness to sacrifice civil liberties and human rights to maintain its power and control over the population. Overall, the Zero COVID-19 protests posed a significant threat to China’s stability due to its implications for the government’s power and international standing.

The protests also affected western nations. In particular, the protests highlighted the need for other nations to be more vigilant in protecting their citizens from the virus. Additionally, many western nations were forced to reassess their relationships with China, as the protests showed that the Chinese government was willing to sacrifice human rights to maintain its power. Finally, these protests also forced many western nations to consider the possibility of increased Chinese power, as the government seemed willing to use any means necessary to protect its citizens and its power. As such, the Zero COVID-19 protests had a significant impact on China’s stability as well as that of other nations.

Overall, the protests at Tiananmen Square and the Zero COVID-19 protests had similar effects on China’s stability. Both demonstrations highlighted the government’s willingness to use violence, censorship, and surveillance to maintain its power. Additionally, both protests caused a decrease in China’s international standing and forced other nations to reassess their relationship with the Chinese government (Xie, Linjun, et al. pg89-102). Finally, both protests posed a significant threat to China’s stability due to their implications for the government’s power and its standing in the international community. As such, these protests have had far-reaching impacts on both China and other countries and demonstrate the need for greater scrutiny of China’s actions in the future.

Research question

What are the implications of The Great Leap Forward, Tiananmen Square protests, and Zero COVID-19 protests for China’s stability?

Argument

While China’s stability has been affected by many historical events, the protests at The Great Leap Forward, Tiananmen Square, and Zero COVID-19 have had a particularly negative impact. The failure of the GLF had severe economic consequences, Tiananmen Square caused a loss of public confidence and international standing, and the Zero COVID-19 protests highlighted a lack of respect for human rights (Feng, Zhanlian, et al. pg 12-25). These events are significant in their own right, but they also have implications for other countries and the future of protests. By examining these events, we can better understand how protests can shape a nation’s stability and how governments can respond effectively.

Why I chose this topic

I chose this topic because I am interested in exploring the impact of protests on a nation’s stability. In particular, I wanted to focus on the protests in China because of their historical significance and the lessons that can be learned from them. Additionally, by focusing on the protests at The Great Leap Forward, Tiananmen Square, and Zero COVID-19 demonstrations, I wanted to analyze how these protests have impacted China’s economic, political, and international stability. This topic has important implications for other countries, as it can give insight into how protests can shape a nation’s future.

Literature Review

This literature review focuses on the effects of three significant protests in China: The Great Leap Forward, Tiananmen Square, and Zero COVID-19. It explores how these protests impacted China’s economic, political, and international stability.

The Great Leap Forward (GLF) was a massive economic campaign launched by Mao Zedong in 1958 to modernize China’s economy. It was an ambitious program but ultimately failed, resulting in severe famine and economic decline (Liu, Yong, et al. pg78-82). Research suggests that the failure of the GLF had a significant impact on China’s stability, leading to decreased public confidence in the government and frustration with its policies (Karlsen pg56-63). Additionally, the failure of the GLF also contributed to reduced demand for Chinese goods and services in the international market, further destabilizing China’s economy.

The Tiananmen Square protests were a series of pro-democracy demonstrations in 1989. The protests were met with a brutal crackdown from the Chinese government, leading to fatalities and hundreds of arrests (Chen pg67-72). This event has been seen as a significant setback for China’s stability due to its implications for government control and citizens’ rights (Chen, pg45-48). Additionally, the Tiananmen Square protests caused a decrease in China’s international standing due to its violent response to the demonstrations and lack of respect for human rights (Chen, p23-31).

The Zero COVID-19 protests took place in 2020 in rebuttal to the Chinese administration’s approach of the coronavirus dilemma. The protests posed a significant threat to China’s stability because they highlighted the government’s willingness to sacrifice human rights and its increasing power over citizens (Bursztyn, Leonardo, et al. pg233-250). The protests also resulted in the deterioration of China’s international standing due to its perceived mishandling of the crisis (Lam & DeBerry pg67-75).

Methods

The methods used to assess the impact of The Great Leap Forward, the Tiananmen Square protests, and the Zero COVID-19 protests on China’s stability included a literature review and a qualitative analysis of media sources. I reviewed academic journals, books, and online articles for the literature review to understand how these protests affected China’s stability. To assess media sources, I analyzed newspaper stories, articles, and blogs to determine how they presented the protests and their implications for China’s stability. By combining these two methods, I was able to gain a comprehensive understanding of the effects of the protests on China’s stability.

Conclusion

The Great Leap Forward protests, Tiananmen Square, and Zero COVID-19 have significantly impacted China’s stability. These events decreased public confidence in the government, caused an economic decline, and decreased China’s international standing due to their implications for human rights and government control. By understanding how these protests have shaped China’s stability, we can gain essential insights into the impact of protests on a nation’s future. Thus, it is crucial to be aware of the potential implications of protests for a nation’s stability.

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