“Desire for political reform was the most important reason for the events in Tiananmen Square in 1989.” Discuss.

The question requires that candidates offer a considered and balanced review of the statement. Reasons may predate the timeframe but they must be clearly linked to the issue raised in the question. Candidates may refer to the desire for democratic reform and the wish to counter corruption in government, highlighted by student movements; the actions of intellectuals and labour activists in Beijing in April 1989, which led to the events in June. These protests led to an increased call for far more radical social reform from many facets of society across the People’s Republic of China. Candidates may also argue that the Four Modernisations had not addressed all of China’s problems and in many ways had created a more divisive society. Other reasons were the failing economy, which had caused mass unemployment, internal migration, crime and worker insecurity. Candidates may agree, partly agree or disagree with the statement.

Candidates were required to offer a considered and balanced review of the statement that desire for political reform was the most important reason for the events in Tiananmen Square. There were some excellent responses to this question that demonstrated a high level of understanding of Deng's China. However, several responses wrote lengthy descriptions on Mao's China with little reference to the Deng years.