| Date | November 2016 | Marks available | 6 | Reference code | 16N.1s3a.BP.TZ0.3 |
| Level | Both SL and HL | Paper | Paper 1 (Communism in crisis 1976–89) - last exams 2016 | Time zone | TZ0 |
| Command term | Assess | Question number | 3 | Adapted from | N/A |
Question
Source A
David Goodman, a British professor of Chinese politics, writing in an academic book, Deng Xiaoping and the Chinese Revolution: A Political Biography (1994).
For the most part those who joined in Democracy Movement activities [in 1978] considered themselves loyal to the party but thought they had approval to call for democracy, since that was indeed a key word at the 3rd plenum [meeting of the Central Committee]. There were, however, one or two demonstrators and wall-posters that challenged the CCP’s [Chinese Communist Party’s] monopoly of political power, and even Deng Xiaoping [Teng Hsiao-p’ing] himself.
Deng’s reaction was swift in defining the new “socialist democracy”. At the party’s conference at the end of March 1979 Deng outlined the “Four cardinal principles” … Anything which challenged any of these four would immediately be regarded as beyond the permitted boundaries.
Source D
An article entitled “We must unequivocally [decisively] oppose unrest”, published in an official Chinese newspaper, People’s Daily (26 April 1989).
In the mourning activities commemorating the death of Hu Yaobang [Hu Yao-pang], vast numbers of … workers, peasants, intellectuals, People’s Liberation Army soldiers and young students expressed their grief in many forms … The Party and the government adopted a tolerant and restrained attitude toward some of the inappropriate words and deeds of those young students who acted in moments of emotional distress … But a tiny handful of people continued to take advantage of the grief of the students …
This tiny handful of people are not really engaged in mourning Comrade Hu Yaobang. Their goal is not to promote socialist democracy in China nor are they simply complaining because they are dissatisfied. They are waving the flag of democracy to destroy democracy and law and order …
Therefore the Party and the people should unite and oppose this turmoil in order to defend our hardearned political harmony and unity, to protect the constitution, and to defend socialist democracy and law and order.
With reference to their origin and purpose, assess the value and limitations of Source A and Source D for historians studying political change in Deng Xiaoping’s [Teng Hsiao-p’ing’s] China.
Markscheme
Source A
Origin: David Goodman, Deng Xiaoping and the Chinese Revolution: A Political Biography published in 1994. Goodman is a British professor of Chinese politics.
Purpose: To provide an academic analysis of Deng Xiaoping’s reforms in a political biography.
Value: The author is an academic and an expert in Chinese politics writing in 1994 with the benefit of hindsight on Deng Xiaoping’s political reforms. The title suggests another value as it is focused on Deng Xiaoping’s period in power. It may offer a perspective free from political pressure as it was published in the West.
Limitations: The title suggests the focus of the book is Deng Xiaoping and therefore it may not develop the roles played by other leaders. The analysis of Deng is from a Western perspective and it is unlikely that the biographer had direct access to official Chinese government sources. As a political study of the leader it may not consider other factors such as social forces.
Source D
Origin: “We must unequivocally oppose unrest.” People’s Daily. People’s Republic of China. 26 April 1989.
Purpose: To give the official government response to the demonstrations in 1989 and to attempt to influence public opinion.
Value: It is from the People’s Daily, which would give the official government view of events at the time of the initial demonstrations. It offers an insight into how the government wanted the events to be portrayed to the Chinese people.
Limitations: This is the official and censored view of the government at the time. It could be viewed as propaganda. As it was published during the early stages of the demonstrations, the government and Party position may have changed as events unfolded. The title suggests it is focused on condemning the demonstrations rather than offering a balanced analysis.
Do not expect all of the above. Ideally there will be a balance between the two sources, and each one can be marked out of [3], but allow a [4/2] split. If only one source is assessed, mark out of [4]. For a maximum of [6] candidates must refer to both origin and purpose, and value and limitations in their assessment.
[6 marks]
