Deng Xiaoping rejected the idea of Western-style democracy for China, emphasizing the nation's unique challenges. Economic reforms initiated by Deng between 1979 and 1989 led to initial success but later faced numerous problems, sparking widespread discontent among the Chinese people.

• Post-1986 protests: After the 1986 protests were crushed, Deng re-emphasized his stand against 'bourgeois liberalisation', which he saw as a mistaken step towards Western democracy.
• Why not democracy for China?
  • Size & Population: China’s vast size and huge, largely uneducated population made elections impractical.
  • Alternative Suggestion: Instead, Deng preferred the system of people's congresses, applying democratic centralism.
• Deng vs. Pro-Democracy Movement
  • Deng's viewpoint: Uninformed citizens should trust their enlightened government to lead.
  • Pro-democracy viewpoint: The government alone couldn't provide expected advances. They wanted power distribution, not just CCP leadership.

🍎 Real-World Example: Imagine a classroom where the teacher decides everything without student input. The teacher believes it's for the best, but students want a voice in decisions, especially if promises made aren't kept.