The Legacy of Tiananmen Square

It's an economic powerhouse and the largest trading partner of many western countries. After it loosened the restrictions on its economy in the late 1980s, many thought that Western-style political reform would follow in China. Instead, the Chinese government adopted its own version of democracy, allowing for a market-driven economy while cracking down on individual expression and freedoms and any action that might challenge the decisions of the ruling party. More than 20 years after the Tiananmen Square uprising, people still ask the fundamental question: why has China not embraced democracy?

Now, in this remarkable book, Michel Cormier exposes the stillborn legacy of democratic reform in China. In The Legacy of Tianamen Square, veteran journalist Michel Cormier examines the century-long battle to bring democracy to China. It begins with a handful of brave souls led by Sun Yat-sen at the turn of the twentieth century and peaks with the student uprising of 1989 -- an event now completely erased from the official histories of the country.

Using historical research, including transcripts from Party meetings, and candid interviews with dissidents -- Cormier gives a human face to a century of struggle and uncovers the many subtle ways that change is now being achieved, one tiny victory at a time. Translated by Jonathan Kaplansky and updated by the author to reflect events in China, The Legacy of Tiananmen Square is an important addition to the discussion of modern China and its place in the world.