In spring 1989, millions of Chinese took to the streets calling for political reforms. The nationwide demonstrations and the college students' hunger strike on Tiananmen Square ended with the People's Liberation Army firing on unarmed civilians. Student leaders, intellectuals, and citizens were subsequently purged, imprisoned, or exiled. Discussion about "Tiananmen" remains a political taboo in China today despite the Tiananmen Mothers' struggle to keep the forbidden memory alive. This interdisciplinary course will explore the Tiananmen Movement in history and memory, and its long-term impact on Chinese society and politics, and China's relationship with the rest of the world.
3-5 units · Letter or Credit/No Credit
In spring 1989, millions of Chinese took to the streets calling for political reforms. The nationwide demonstrations and the college students' hunger strike on Tiananmen Square ended with the People's Liberation Army firing on unarmed civilians. Student leaders, intellectuals, and citizens were subsequently purged, imprisoned, or exiled. Discussion about "Tiananmen" remains a political taboo in China today despite the Tiananmen Mothers' struggle to keep the forbidden memory alive. This interdisciplinary course will explore the Tiananmen Movement in history and memory, and its long-term impact on Chinese society and politics, and China's relationship with the rest of the world.
Offered in Autumn 2026 at Stanford University.