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The Legacy of Tiananmen Square
With the loosening of restrictions on the Chinese economy in the 1980s and 1990s and the rise of the middle class, many observers thought that Western-style democracy would soon follow. Instead, China has adopted its own version, with a market-driven economy where actions that might call into question the decisions of the governing party are strictly forbidden. In this fascinating account, Cormier chronicles numerous failed attempts to bring democracy to China in the last century, starting with a handful of brave souls who tried to move China towards a constitutional monarchy at the turn of the century and peaking with the student uprising of 1989. Using historical research (including surprising transcripts from Party meetings) and candid interviews with many of the dissidents — some now living in exile, others under house arrest in China — Cormier tells the very human story of real people struggling for human rights and freedoms. The Legacy of Tiananmen Square was originally published in French as Les héritiers de Tiananmen . This updated edition was translated by Jonathan Kaplansky.
- GenresHistory
238 pages, Hardcover
First published March 31, 2013
2 people are currently reading
15 people want to read
About the author
Michel Cormier
16 booksMichel Cormier est un journaliste canadien. De 2000 à 2010, il est un des correspondants internationaux du réseau français de Radio-Canada, notamment en Russie et en Chine.
Originaire du village de Cocagne dans le sud-est du Nouveau-Brunswick, Michel Cormier poursuit des études en journalisme à l'université Carleton d'Ottawa et en science politique (relations internationales) à l'Université Laval.
Il entre au service de la Société Radio-Canada dès l'obtention de son premier diplôme universitaire, en 1979. Il œuvre d'abord à la salle de nouvelles de Moncton de 1979 à 1983. De retour à Radio-Canada après ses études de maitrise (M.A), il prépare pendant sept ans des reportages d'affaires publiques à la radio, d'abord pour le magazine radiophonique Présent-Dimanche de 1986 à 1989, puis à Sunday Morning à la radio anglophone de la CBC. Le journaliste acadien revient au réseau français en tant que correspondant parlementaire à Ottawa (1993-1996), puis chef du bureau de la colline parlementaire des nouvelles télévisées de Radio-Canada à Québec.
À compter d'avril 2000, Michel Cormier est correspondant de la télévision de Radio-Canada à l'étranger. Il a été en poste à Moscou, où il a notamment couvert le renversement du régime taliban en Afghanistan, et à Paris (2004-2006).
En mai 2006, la direction de Radio-Canada a annoncé sa mutation au bureau de Beijing, où il a couvert l'actualité asiatique pour le compte du réseau français du diffuseur public canadien. En octobre 2010, la direction de Radio-Canada a annoncé qu'il prendrait la direction de Radio-Canada Acadie. Il assume ces fonctions jusqu'au printemps 2012. En avril 2012, il revient à Montréal à titre de directeur général de l'information à Radio-Canada jusqu'à sa retraite en juin 2018.
Originaire du village de Cocagne dans le sud-est du Nouveau-Brunswick, Michel Cormier poursuit des études en journalisme à l'université Carleton d'Ottawa et en science politique (relations internationales) à l'Université Laval.
Il entre au service de la Société Radio-Canada dès l'obtention de son premier diplôme universitaire, en 1979. Il œuvre d'abord à la salle de nouvelles de Moncton de 1979 à 1983. De retour à Radio-Canada après ses études de maitrise (M.A), il prépare pendant sept ans des reportages d'affaires publiques à la radio, d'abord pour le magazine radiophonique Présent-Dimanche de 1986 à 1989, puis à Sunday Morning à la radio anglophone de la CBC. Le journaliste acadien revient au réseau français en tant que correspondant parlementaire à Ottawa (1993-1996), puis chef du bureau de la colline parlementaire des nouvelles télévisées de Radio-Canada à Québec.
À compter d'avril 2000, Michel Cormier est correspondant de la télévision de Radio-Canada à l'étranger. Il a été en poste à Moscou, où il a notamment couvert le renversement du régime taliban en Afghanistan, et à Paris (2004-2006).
En mai 2006, la direction de Radio-Canada a annoncé sa mutation au bureau de Beijing, où il a couvert l'actualité asiatique pour le compte du réseau français du diffuseur public canadien. En octobre 2010, la direction de Radio-Canada a annoncé qu'il prendrait la direction de Radio-Canada Acadie. Il assume ces fonctions jusqu'au printemps 2012. En avril 2012, il revient à Montréal à titre de directeur général de l'information à Radio-Canada jusqu'à sa retraite en juin 2018.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 2, 2017
was a good background on China and its fight for transparency
November 24, 2021
The hope for democracy in some form is the spirit of this book after detailing the twisting, unusual history of China. Cormier highlights the various attempts to change communist China’s totalitarianism including the Hundred Flowers Campaign, the Democracy Wall, Tiananmen Square, judicial reforms, and more independent labor rights. Repeatedly the Communist government attacks any attempt to provide competition to a one-party country. The thought that economic reforms would give root to political freedoms never materialized in the way many in the West considered they would.
Cormier provides much rich, although sometimes a bit haphazard information on the characters and what led up to the showdown at Tiananmen Square. The divisions in government – and among the students – are highlighted. But the biggest accomplishment of this book is looking to the future, discussion what could be done to open government. He reports that some Chinese reformers are looking to open a more open labor policy and court system. The citizens can make meaningful gains in some freedoms as long as It’s not on democracy, Tibet, or Tiananmen Square. In that way it was a bit of what I experienced a half dozen years ago when I visited.
Most compelling in the book are the stories of Chinese of today’s freedom fighters with names few Americans know: Chai Ling, Chen Zeming, Hu Jia, Wang Dan, Wang Juntao, and Xi Jinping. Cormier highlighted their work and demonstrated their brave and self-sacrificing decisions to challenge the one party rule of China. They each had their own pathway to prison and/or house arrest, sometimes turning around after being released and confronting the autocracy immediately to face hard prison time once again. Each of these people could use additional chapters to better show their brave efforts against incredible odds.
The author chose to end the book with a hopeful spirit, suggesting that there are pathways for a more democratic nation with more freedoms. The Chinese government does allow citizens to speak up about working conditions, quality of drinking water, education, and other health issues. The judiciary has become more just, reducing unscrupulous sentences after mock court rulings. The author states that Chinese authorities realize “it is better for grievances to be settled before the courts than in the streets.”
Clearly the Chinese people are expecting more, at least economically. The author points out that they want to be treated better than their parents, striking and achieving improvements. When I was over in China, it was clear that these illegal strikes were more frequent and more productive than in the United States, despite that action being legal here. The author highlights that if the economy doesn’t continue to grow at a high rate to assure people have jobs, the government understands that could truly turn everything upside down. The leaders also understand that corruption and a further movement to some on the top having so much and others having little can also challenge the very party they hold so dear.
This book is a good review of democracy in China but not as good as Kissinger’s book, On China, although more updated. Kissinger’s book was the best book I’ve read on this complicated, amazing country with a rich, unusual history.
Cormier provides much rich, although sometimes a bit haphazard information on the characters and what led up to the showdown at Tiananmen Square. The divisions in government – and among the students – are highlighted. But the biggest accomplishment of this book is looking to the future, discussion what could be done to open government. He reports that some Chinese reformers are looking to open a more open labor policy and court system. The citizens can make meaningful gains in some freedoms as long as It’s not on democracy, Tibet, or Tiananmen Square. In that way it was a bit of what I experienced a half dozen years ago when I visited.
Most compelling in the book are the stories of Chinese of today’s freedom fighters with names few Americans know: Chai Ling, Chen Zeming, Hu Jia, Wang Dan, Wang Juntao, and Xi Jinping. Cormier highlighted their work and demonstrated their brave and self-sacrificing decisions to challenge the one party rule of China. They each had their own pathway to prison and/or house arrest, sometimes turning around after being released and confronting the autocracy immediately to face hard prison time once again. Each of these people could use additional chapters to better show their brave efforts against incredible odds.
The author chose to end the book with a hopeful spirit, suggesting that there are pathways for a more democratic nation with more freedoms. The Chinese government does allow citizens to speak up about working conditions, quality of drinking water, education, and other health issues. The judiciary has become more just, reducing unscrupulous sentences after mock court rulings. The author states that Chinese authorities realize “it is better for grievances to be settled before the courts than in the streets.”
Clearly the Chinese people are expecting more, at least economically. The author points out that they want to be treated better than their parents, striking and achieving improvements. When I was over in China, it was clear that these illegal strikes were more frequent and more productive than in the United States, despite that action being legal here. The author highlights that if the economy doesn’t continue to grow at a high rate to assure people have jobs, the government understands that could truly turn everything upside down. The leaders also understand that corruption and a further movement to some on the top having so much and others having little can also challenge the very party they hold so dear.
This book is a good review of democracy in China but not as good as Kissinger’s book, On China, although more updated. Kissinger’s book was the best book I’ve read on this complicated, amazing country with a rich, unusual history.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 6, 2013
Delivered, as promised, no surprises here, a better understanding of today's China, specifically regarding reforms towards capitalism and democracy. I have acquired an insight that will help me watch China's evolution, at least in as much as China allow outsiders to see.
But it was not an easy or delightful read. There too, delivered as promised, a journalistic approach to the subject. It was like reading the weekend section of the newspaper, 200 pages of it, all on the same subject. For half the book, I set myself a goal of ten pages at a sitting, that's how dry I found it to be. I am disappointed in the superficial treatment of China's 20th century, the civil war, Mao, the cultural revolution, but there again, as promised, only a journalist's basic history is presented. Approaching the second half, around the actual events of Tiananmen 1989, I plowed through on a 100 page sprint to the finish and found it very much easier to follow and appreciate. i suspect that this might be because the time period was recent enough that I could relate better.
Glad to have read it, but it is not my idea of a great reading experience. I am sure there are plenty of people who will find this book just perfect, concise and to the point. Newspaper junkies will likely devour it and say bravo. I am just not one of them.
But it was not an easy or delightful read. There too, delivered as promised, a journalistic approach to the subject. It was like reading the weekend section of the newspaper, 200 pages of it, all on the same subject. For half the book, I set myself a goal of ten pages at a sitting, that's how dry I found it to be. I am disappointed in the superficial treatment of China's 20th century, the civil war, Mao, the cultural revolution, but there again, as promised, only a journalist's basic history is presented. Approaching the second half, around the actual events of Tiananmen 1989, I plowed through on a 100 page sprint to the finish and found it very much easier to follow and appreciate. i suspect that this might be because the time period was recent enough that I could relate better.
Glad to have read it, but it is not my idea of a great reading experience. I am sure there are plenty of people who will find this book just perfect, concise and to the point. Newspaper junkies will likely devour it and say bravo. I am just not one of them.
January 27, 2015
Very enlightening
September 29, 2025
Lu en français. L'auteur a fait un bon mélange dans sa recherche entre les ouvrages, la documentation et les témoignages/entrevues de personnes importantes dans cette sphère de l'histoire chinoise.
October 6, 2013
I first became interested in Chinese politics after reading Jan Wong's Beijing Confidential. This book only added to my interest in the Chinese political history and present day goings on. Very short but interesting and different! I enjoyed reading about the most famous dissidents of China and their struggle for democracy.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews