Deadly Decision in Beijing
Succession Politics, Protest Repression, and the 1989 Tiananmen Massacre

A play-by-play account of the elite politics that led to the military crackdown during the 1989 Tiananmen protests in China.

Yang Su (Author)

9781009114202, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 2 March 2023

330 pages
22.8 x 15.2 x 1.9 cm, 0.5 kg

'a lively narrative' Andrew J. Nathan, Foreign Affairs

Three decades after 1989, historical materials are now available for understanding the Tiananmen protests in a new light. In a play-by-play account of the elite politics that led to the military crackdown, Yang Su addresses the repression of the protest in the context of political leadership succession. He challenges conventional views that see the military intervention as a necessary measure against a revolutionary mobilization. Beneath the political drama, Deadly Decision in Beijing explores the authoritarian regime's perpetual crisis of leadership transition and its impact on popular movements.

1. Introduction: a decision to kill
Part I. Party-state Leadership in the Deng Era: 2. The coming of the Deng Era: 1976–1987
3. The fate of two successors: 1980–April 15, 1989
Part II. Elite Politics and the Making of the Tiananmen Protest: 4. Early response and the growth of the protest: April 15–April 26, 1989
5. Where was Deng Xiaoping? April 15–May 11, 1989
6. How a moderate approach failed: April 26–May 17, 1989
Part III. The Decision for Military Intervention: 7. Was it a revolution? April 15–June 3, 1989
8. The martial law decision: May 13–May 19, 1989
9. Military operation as symbolic display of power: June 3–June 4, 1989
Part IV. The Political Impact: 10. Deng's long game: 1989–1992
11. Conclusion: Tiananmen and China's communist authoritarianism.

Subject Areas: Revolutionary groups & movements [JPWQ], Demonstrations & protest movements [JPWF], Political structures: totalitarianism & dictatorship [JPHX], Comparative politics [JPB], General & world history [HBG]