Quelling the People: The Military Suppression of the Beijing Democracy Movement
Encyclopedia
Quelling the People: The Military Suppression of the Beijing Democracy Movement is a history book which investigates the infamous
conflict between the Chinese democracy movement
in Beijing
, China
and the communist-ruled Chinese state's People's Liberation Army
, culminating in the confrontation between the citizens of Beijing and the People's Liberation Army at Tiananmen Square
in June 1989.
The book is written by Timothy Brook
, a distinguished Canadian
historian
who specializes in the study of China
(Sinology
).
movement
in Beijing, China and the communist-ruled Chinese state's People's Liberation Army. The democracy movement began during the Beijing Spring
in 1978 and the conflict culminated in a mass confrontation
between the citizens of Beijing and the People's Liberation Army at Tiananmen Square in June 1989. The immediate conflict at Tiananmen Square was brought to an end by the People's Liberation Army which used force, causing the death of hundreds of the protesters. The massacre was followed by a "media silence" and the suppression
of the democracy movement.
In the book, which centres around a "detailed reconstruction of the Tiananmen Square massacre on June 3 and 4, 1989," the author examines the confusion of, and mistakes made by, the Chinese authorities, as well as the role of the "Tank Man
", the student who famously stood his ground in front of a column of four approaching army tanks.
states that "the author skillfully weaves eyewitness accounts into a smoothly flowing narrative. Two maps of Beijing assist the reader in following the actions described, and there is a useful chronology of events. The work should interest both generalists and specialists, and spans the disciplines of history, political science
, and sociology
." However, the reviewer finds it "difficult to accept Brook's conclusion, advanced in the final pages of the book and without prior concept
ualization" in which he makes a "startling last-minute resort to external imperialism
-as-bogeyman
."
In the journal Pacific affairs
, Tony Saich is of the opinion that "the author has done a magnificent job of reconstructing the military
mobilization
in Beijing and the role of the People's Liberation Army in the bloody suppression of the Chinese people's movement." He sums up Quelling the People as "a moving book that vividly displays the extraordinary bravery of the residents of Beijing."
Infamy
Infamy, in common usage, is notoriety gained from a negative incident or reputation . The word stems from the Latin infamia, antonym of fama ....
conflict between the Chinese democracy movement
Chinese democracy movement
The Chinese democracy movement refers to a series of loosely organized political movements in the People's Republic of China against the continued one-party rule by the Communist Party. One such movement began during the Beijing Spring in 1978 and was taken up again in the Tiananmen Square...
in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
and the communist-ruled Chinese state's People's Liberation Army
People's Liberation Army
The People's Liberation Army is the unified military organization of all land, sea, strategic missile and air forces of the People's Republic of China. The PLA was established on August 1, 1927 — celebrated annually as "PLA Day" — as the military arm of the Communist Party of China...
, culminating in the confrontation between the citizens of Beijing and the People's Liberation Army at Tiananmen Square
Tiananmen Square protests of 1989
The Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, also known as the June Fourth Incident in Chinese , were a series of demonstrations in and near Tiananmen Square in Beijing in the People's Republic of China beginning on 15 April 1989...
in June 1989.
The book is written by Timothy Brook
Timothy Brook (historian)
Timothy James Brook , who writes as Timothy Brook and who has had many academic works published, is a distinguished historian specializing in the study of China...
, a distinguished Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
who specializes in the study of China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
(Sinology
Sinology
Sinology in general use is the study of China and things related to China, but, especially in the American academic context, refers more strictly to the study of classical language and literature, and the philological approach...
).
Synopsis
Quelling the People investigates the conflict between the Chinese democracyDemocracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
movement
Social movement
Social movements are a type of group action. They are large informal groupings of individuals or organizations focused on specific political or social issues, in other words, on carrying out, resisting or undoing a social change....
in Beijing, China and the communist-ruled Chinese state's People's Liberation Army. The democracy movement began during the Beijing Spring
Beijing Spring
The Beijing Spring refers to a brief period of political liberalization in the People's Republic of China which occurred in 1977 and 1978. The name is derived from "Prague Spring", an analogous event which occurred in Czechoslovakia in 1968....
in 1978 and the conflict culminated in a mass confrontation
Protest
A protest is an expression of objection, by words or by actions, to particular events, policies or situations. Protests can take many different forms, from individual statements to mass demonstrations...
between the citizens of Beijing and the People's Liberation Army at Tiananmen Square in June 1989. The immediate conflict at Tiananmen Square was brought to an end by the People's Liberation Army which used force, causing the death of hundreds of the protesters. The massacre was followed by a "media silence" and the suppression
Suppression of dissent
Suppression of dissent occurs when an individual or group which is more powerful than another tries to directly or indirectly censor, persecute or otherwise oppress the other party, rather than engage with and constructively respond to or accommodate the other party's arguments or viewpoint...
of the democracy movement.
In the book, which centres around a "detailed reconstruction of the Tiananmen Square massacre on June 3 and 4, 1989," the author examines the confusion of, and mistakes made by, the Chinese authorities, as well as the role of the "Tank Man
Tank Man
Tank Man, or the Unknown Rebel, is the nickname of an anonymous man who stood in front of a column of Chinese Type 59 tanks the morning after the Chinese military forcibly removed protestors from in and around Beijing's Tiananmen Square on June 5, 1989. The man achieved widespread international...
", the student who famously stood his ground in front of a column of four approaching army tanks.
Reception
June Teufel Dreyer, writing in The China QuarterlyThe China Quarterly
The China Quarterly, founded in 1960, is an interdisciplinary academic journal that focuses on all aspects of contemporary Mainland China and Taiwan. It covers a range of subjects including anthropology, business, literature and the arts, economics, geography, history, international affairs, law,...
states that "the author skillfully weaves eyewitness accounts into a smoothly flowing narrative. Two maps of Beijing assist the reader in following the actions described, and there is a useful chronology of events. The work should interest both generalists and specialists, and spans the disciplines of history, political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
, and sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
." However, the reviewer finds it "difficult to accept Brook's conclusion, advanced in the final pages of the book and without prior concept
Concept
The word concept is used in ordinary language as well as in almost all academic disciplines. Particularly in philosophy, psychology and cognitive sciences the term is much used and much discussed. WordNet defines concept: "conception, construct ". However, the meaning of the term concept is much...
ualization" in which he makes a "startling last-minute resort to external imperialism
Imperialism
Imperialism, as defined by Dictionary of Human Geography, is "the creation and/or maintenance of an unequal economic, cultural, and territorial relationships, usually between states and often in the form of an empire, based on domination and subordination." The imperialism of the last 500 years,...
-as-bogeyman
Bogeyman
A bogeyman is an amorphous imaginary being used by adults to frighten children into compliant behaviour...
."
In the journal Pacific affairs
Pacific Affairs
Pacific Affairs ' is a peer-reviewed scholarly journal that publishes academic research on contemporary political, economic, and social issues in Asia and the Pacific. The journal was founded in 1926 as the newsletter for the entirety of the Institute of Pacific Relations . In May 1928, PA adopted...
, Tony Saich is of the opinion that "the author has done a magnificent job of reconstructing the military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
mobilization
Mobilization
Mobilization is the act of assembling and making both troops and supplies ready for war. The word mobilization was first used, in a military context, in order to describe the preparation of the Prussian army during the 1850s and 1860s. Mobilization theories and techniques have continuously changed...
in Beijing and the role of the People's Liberation Army in the bloody suppression of the Chinese people's movement." He sums up Quelling the People as "a moving book that vividly displays the extraordinary bravery of the residents of Beijing."