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Social movements in China:
Umbrella movement was a political movement that started in China. It emerged during a protest in Hong Kong in 2014. The term “Umbrella” has been given to this movement because at that time, umbrellas were used as a tool by the passive protesters for resisting the Police who was attacking protesters at that time. It has been observed that during those 79 days, one main demand was for the free elections. There were tens of thousands of people who participated in this protest that started on 26 September 2014. There were several incidents of violence as well as there were triads and thugs that made the residents of Hong Kong to raise their voice against the authorities. There was another important movement that emerged during the past few years that is known as Foxconn Labor movement; both the movements are listed below in details:
Comparison
Who started these movements and why these incidents happened:
This protest was started by three activists (Joshua Wong, Nathan Law, and Alex Chow) who were students and the pro-democracy group of Hong Kong, in 2014. It is also known as the Occupy Central Movement or the Umbrella Revolution. Hong Kong is one of the financial hubs but in 2014 it exploded in protest, and there were seen tens of thousands of Hong Kong residents on the streets. The place that was the central business district, turned into a virtual conflict zone. This movement mainly started by the students who were on the front foot, and the government was not taking their demands seriously and this was the reason that pushed out all youngsters, old, rich and poor. These incidents happened, because the residents of Hong Kong were feeling insecure (Ho,et,al,2018). By taking a look at the history of Hong Kong, it could be seen that Hong Kong used to be a British colony, but in 1997 it was handed to China as its city.
It was decided that “One Country, Two System” is going to be applied to Hong Kong and it was ensured by the Chinese Communist Government that Hong Kong is going to retain its currency and all the things that may vary than the political system that would be implemented in China. People at that time were very happy by that freedom that they were having but during the recent years, there happened something that made them realize that their freedom is being threat by the Chinese government, as the Chinese government was trying to give priority to the things that were best in their interest, especially the incidents like the spending of public funds for pro-China white elephant, and developing of some neo-liberalism economic policies, Hong Kongers even unhappy.
While on the other hand, there was another famous movement that started in China, “Foxconn labor movement” that was started by the labors who were working in that empire of factories. It was also a kind of social movement that started in China because rights of the workers were violated at a great level, and this was happening for many years against which people raised their voice in the form of this movement. There were many incidents of suicides that become the reason of this social movement. One of the main incidents that attracted attention of the global world and the Chinese authorities was the suicide attempt of a 17 years girl, Tian Yu who was a worker at Foxconn and jumped from the fourth-story dorm. Other important incidents or reasons that forced labors of Foxconn, to start this social movement was the bad attitude of the managers who used to shout on the workers and used to torture them. Also, the workers of Foxconn were not at all given labor rights that became one of the main reasons for this social movement.
Goals of the movement:
The goal of the Umbrella Movement was to make China aware of residents of Hong Kong who were not ready to tolerate any injustice. The goal of this movement was to protect the democracy of Hong Kong, and they demanded that they wanted the free elections; this demand was sparked by the decision of a political party "Standing Committee of the National People's Congress" who demand pre-screening. If mentioned in simple words, the goal of this movement was to choose a leader of their own choice for which residents of Hong Kong struggled.
Moreover, by taking a look at the Foxconn labor movement, it could be seen that this movement started for securing the rights of the labors, as it was seen, Foxconn broke Chinese labor laws as they underpay their labors. For raising voice against the violation of rights against the labor class who were committing suicide, the investigation was started in which the team inspected that how Foxconn was treating its labor and why the labors were forced to commit suicide.
State’s response:
By having a deep analysis of the umbrella movement, it could be said that it was much surprising for the government to see thousands of people, protesting in most populated streets of Hong Kong. The state felt being in trouble as this movement stared over the night and people in larger number, blocked three of the main districts of Hong Kong. The state was being criticized by the international media as the Hong Kongers started declaring that Hong Kong is not China, so this was the thing that put the state in more trouble. This movement was more like a threat to the state as it continued for 79 days. It was seen that state at first tried to deal this issue by using power but later on, when it realized that the situation was getting out of their hands, it took a smart step and tried to fulfill demand of free electoral system of the Hong Kongers.
The state’s response was positive and was appreciated by everyone as the state took timely and strict response against those who were violating the labor rights and torturing the labor. The state responded in time and sent the legal team for investigating the conditions in which the workers were working in Foxconn which is one of the largest manufacturers of iPhone (Chan,et,al,2013). The response given by the state gave the protesters a confidence that their state is there behind them for protecting their rights as workers were working in Taiwan factories that were taking advantage of the Chinese labor power by violating all the labor rights, but the quick and positive response of state warns the factories who were violating its labor's rights. Demands of labors were put in front of the companies for providing workers with better working conditions.
Methods used by the movement:
There is no doubt that umbrella movement was one of the movements that were quite unusual and used a unique way for proceeding. In this movement, the protestors selected a kind of little different method of protest as they were trying to make this movement as peaceful as possible but situation went out of hands. The method that was opted for this movement included a series of sit-in-street protests. Though the protestors not harm people or any property but still for jamming all the system of the city, they blocked many crowded and famous streets and roads, so that the authorities would pay attention towards them, (Ortmann,et,al,2015). It was seen that tens of thousands of protestors blocked the streets of three main districts of Hong Kong. In this movement, one of the most important things that have been used was umbrella as it was summer when this movement started and people for saving them from the pepper spray of police used umbrellas as shield. Other things that were used by the protestors were the surgical masks, diving goggles and shield for their arms so that they could save them from police (Tang,et,al,2015). They used a method that would make the authorities helpless, so that they could put their demands in front of them.
For this movement, the method that was adopted by the protestors was, they raised a voice against the violation of the labor rights and media has been used for making this movement stronger and with the suicide attempt of a young girl who became paralyzed for the life, international and Chinese newspaper was used as a tool for making this movement popular so that the voice of the labor could reach the hears of international media and authorities, who could take steps against the violation of the labor rights (Lüthje,et,al,2017). The protestors after having an in depth analysis of the increasing number of suicides committed by the labors of Foxconn, called legal associations for help and used one of the most peaceful methods by involving the local and international organizations that were there for protecting the rights of these labors.
Strength scale
Protest and rising voice against anything that one may think, is against his/her rights, and has been seen many times. Protests that could be viewed in China during the last few years, which proved influential, are many but these two above mentioned movements were the most powerful of all during the last few years. It would not be wrong to say that umbrella movement was large-scale disobedience that started in Hong Kong (Tang,et,al,2015). The strength scale of this movement could be judged by taking a look at the involvement of students as it is fact that students are the main power of any country or state who are going to decide about the future of a country, so it was seen that this movement had such a great strength that it was mainly started by three students. The strength of this movement could also be seen by taking a look at the fact that this movement gave an identity to the students.
Another thing from which the strength scale of this movement could be checked is that this umbrella movement has cast such a great impact internationally that it has been nominated for the Noble Peace Prize for 2018. Another important thing that should be kept in mind for taking a look at the strength scale of this movement is that the Chinese government was forced to accept all the demands that the protestors put in front of it after the continuous struggle of 79 days.
It has been seen in the history that there have been many protests that are being done for securing the rights of the labor, but this protest or the movement proved one of the most influential movements that have been done in history for raising a voice against the violation of the labor rights. This movement has merged das one of the most strong and its strength level could be seen by taking a look at the coverage of this movement on an international level (Ngai,et,al,2012). The strength level of this movement could be seen by taking a look at the attention that the whole world gave to this movement and especially the Apple instructed not only to Foxconn but to its all supplier for making a sound and flexible policy for the labors in which there would be no conception of violation of any labor rights as workforce is the main source of the revenue.
Another thing that reflects the strength scale of this movement is that Fair Labor Associative took notice of this matter and started investigating things. This inspection team also warned Foxconn that they have to be very careful about how they are going to treat their labors. The strength of this movement could be seen by taking a look at the changed attitude of Foxconn as they ensured that they are going to fix a standard work time and also they are going to increase the wages of the labor as per their efforts.
After effects of movements
We are discussing two different social movements that started there in China; likewise there were different after-effects of these two social movements on the world and particularly on Hong Kong and China. By taking a look at the umbrella movement, it could be seen that it would be enough to know the role and impact that umbrella movement has been nominated for the noble peace award 2018. It has been seen that after 28th September 2014, one of the most influential and intense pro-democracy mobilization that was never seen before in Hong Kong. There was seen that a user of the online communication by using the techno-politics. In some of the parts, this movement has been overstretched. After fighting for almost 79 days and being teargased, arrested and beaten by the police, feelings of hatred were quite understandable in the protestors. One of the main after effect of this movement is the realization of how in just their society was even with them by the residents of Hong Kong, especially this thing was realized by the young students of Hong Kong.
One of the most eye-catching and attention grasping after effect of this movement is that three activists and the pro-democracy group who were behind this movement have been nominated for 2018, Noble Peace Prize for making efforts, in bringing the positive changing and reforms in the Chinese territory. Initially it just stated as a political movement, but later on, it was proved that this movement cast great impacts on civic education, critical thinking and theories of education and widen up the areas and thinking of people.
The primary effect for which this movement started was seen and that was the involvement of the Chinese government is in political matters by taking the demands of residents of Hong Kong, as it was seen that China choose to engineer the electoral system of Hong Kong so that no one who is being mistrusted is going to be selected for competing in the election as the chief executive. The after effect of this movement was that China was having a kind of fear that no political coalition wins the Legislative Council. The protestors of the umbrella movement also achieved their goal for which they started this movement as China for selecting chief executive, made a committee of people who were trusted by both people of China as well as Hong Kong. There were also healthy impacts on the economy that favor the interests of Hong Kong, and they were also given access to decision making. It has been seen that Taiwan based Hon Hai precision industry (also known as Foxconn), was blamed that it is violating the rights of labor, many investigating teams were being sent to the
Impact Foxconn labor could be easily seen by taking a look at the overall scenario that has been created, but it is important to say that in contrast to the umbrella movement that had the positive outcomes, Foxconn labor movement may have negative impacts on many of the international manufacturers who are taking advantage from the cheap labor of China. With the rising numbers of suicide cases, the international media and the local media paid more attention to Foxconn Empire that was the primary source of iPhone production. There was the violation of the human rights at an exceptional level; such workers were pushed to work for overtime and completing the rush orders without any extra money or bonus (Friedman,et,al,2010). They were inhumanely treated by the managers. Workers had to work for 12 hours and the overtime of the month in Foxconn was 80 hours whether it is 30 hours internationally.
After being into the limelight and being blamed for the suicide of the 147 young people, much internal and government started investigating against Foxconn. There gathered many pieces of evidence that workers used to be tortured and they were forced to commit suicide just because of the pressure of the work and unfair wages, but it was seen that when the investigating of many of the factories was done, this manufacturing giant Foxconn ensured that it is going to take care of its workers and would take serious notice against anyone who is going to violate any labor right. Foxconn also ensured that it would sharply curtail working hours for the workers and would try its best to provide them all those facilities that the labor deserves as their right.
Another visible impact of this Foxconn labor movement is that Foxconn also promised to fairly increasing the wages of the labors as per the law inside the Chinese plants making electronic of many multinational companies, such as Apple. Researchers are expecting that they would be seen positive impacts of this social movement on the overall labor conditions in China. An inspection was done by the Fair Labor Association and after that a shift in the attitude of management of Foxconn was seen. With labor who were feeling very insecure because of the bad treatment of management and managers. This inspection team investigated that there were more than 43 violations of chine laws and regulations. When the investigation team saw that they were more than 43% workers who witnessed or personally experienced violence that they started making a file with strong pieces of evidence against Foxconn, then Foxconn promised that they are going to change the manner of how they will have to deliver. Foxconn was warned by the Apple as it recently joined Fair Labor Association, it requested this inspection to check and investigate the plants and places where Apple products such as iPhone, pads and other devices are manufactured.
The impact or the after effects of Foxconn labor movement was that there during the past months there has been seen protests and petitions against Foxconn. There has been seen many labor rights organizations started the scrutiny of the apple suppliers in China. After effects of this movement were more threatening for Apple, as it was being sent many letters to ensure decent conditions of working and it was also advised to make ethical policies for labors at the level of all its suppliers. Another positive impact that has been seen facilitating the labors is that Apple has released a list of its 156 suppliers which it previously failed to identify. Apple started monitoring the conditions in which its worker work, and also it started getting a report for its management about the time like how many hours its work in China. There is no doubt there in China Foxconn is the almost only manufacturer of iPhone, and it is one of its biggest manufacturers in China.
What these movements’ means to the Chinese civilians
By taking a looking at both the starting points and the after effects of the umbrella movement could be said that it cast great impacts on the chines civilians as it first it makes them insecure and threatens them as the situation was getting worse with each passing time. With ten passage of time, Chinese civilians realized that through umbrella movement people are just claiming for the free electoral process that is their right. It was seen that Chinese civilians were feeling a kind of threat at the beginning as it was a complete failure of government at all levels. Media coverage used to represent that it was a complete failure of China to get the things on the right track. Chinese civilians were trapped in the thoughts that maybe there would be even a severe outcome of this movement, and Chinese civilians were feeling more insecure as Hong Kong's residents refused for being a part of China anymore, so the Chinese civilians were at the risk of a great clash. When things started moving towards the right direction and the main electoral demand of protestors Chinese civilians become and supported the decision took by the authorities.
By taking an in-depth eye on the Foxconn labor movement, it could be said that growth of Foxconn was a clear sign for the chines economy that a new phenomenon has been introduced by which there could be seen an expansion of the capitalism in China when it comes to the size of the workforce. This social movement was very important for the Chinese civilians as in this chain of factories, most students were working who were the future of this country and the way the number of suicide was getting increase it scared the Chinese civilians, but then it was seen that chines civilians were very satisfied and happy after the success of this movement as this gave the labors a sense of security. This movement means a lot for the chines civilians as it gave them a feeling that they have the power to raise their voice against an unjust and change the thing in favor of their fellows.
Tiananmen incident in 1989
It has been seen those in 1989 after many weeks of the demonstration, finally, on the 4 June, Chinese troops entered the territory of Tiananmen Square. With entry, the Chinese troops are starting firing on the innocent civilians. Pro-democracy protesters were being killed and arrested by the chines e troops. This brutality was criticized by the international world, and there could be seen that many sanctions were imposed on China by the United States. It was seen that millions of young students in 1989, entered in central Beijing to protest for the resignation of the leader of the communists' party and the protesters were seen marching and chanting in the streets, for almost nearly three weeks (Zhao,et,al,2004). Tiananmen Square was almost stormed by the Chinese troops and police. Many of the media houses covered all this brutality for the international world, and it was seen that for saving themselves thousands of students tried to escape the rampaging Chinese force that was shooting on people without any discrimination. While on the other hand there were another group of the protesters as well who did not run away to save their lives; instead they fought back and attacked the chine force with whatever they had. It has been reported that they used to set on fire the vehicle of ten Chinese forces. They were also stoning back at the troops as well.
According to the foreign diplomats and media, more than 300 were killed by the Chinese troops, and more than a thousand were arrested. This act of cruelty really stunned both the allies and cold were enemies, and this act created fear on them as well. One of the leaders of the Soviet, Mikhail Gorbachev said that this event saddened him, but he hopes that the Chinese government would implement its domestic reform program. The international media believes that one day China would begin to democratize its political system. just after the three weeks of this cruel act, U.S Congress proposed a bill and voted that the U.S is going to impose some of the sanctions on people’s China as a response against the unethical and brutal act that they did against Tiananmen.
It would not be wrong to say that it is the right of people to protest if they are unhappy with anything and peaceful protest should not be treated with brutality as Chinese government did as it was seen that there were almost thousands of people if not millions who were calling for an economic and political change and wanted to see reforms, but the way Chinese government responded was something below than the level of humanity. Chinese government overwhelming used its force for suppressing the voice of people and their demonstration. One should also know that there gathered many people in 1989 across China at Tiananmen Square, in Beijing were there to mourn the death of a political leader Hu Yaobang, and starting showing frustration there at the slow going of the reforms that were promised to them, so this was the only thing that killed hundreds of people.
References
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Ho, Petula Sik Ying, Stevi Jackson, and Jun Rene Lam. "Talking Politics, Performing Masculinities: Stories of Hong Kong Men Before and After the Umbrella Movement." Sex Roles 79.9-10 (2018): 533-548.
Lüthje, Boy, and Florian Butollo. "Why the Foxconn model does not die: Production networks and labor relations in the IT industry in South China." Globalizations 14.2 (2017): 216-231.
Ngai, Pun, and Jenny Chan. "Global capital, the state, and Chinese workers: the Foxconn experience." Modern China38.4 (2012): 383-410.
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Tang, Gary. "Mobilization by images: TV screen and mediated instant grievances in the Umbrella Movement." Chinese Journal of Communication 8.4 (2015): 338-355.
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Zhao, Dingxin. The power of Tiananmen: State-society relations and the 1989 Beijing student movement. University of Chicago Press, 2004.
