A relook into the past : deconstructing the communist myth in Chinese middle schools students riots

Abstract

With the recent release of oral accounts of important political figures and student activists involved in the student riots that occurred in 1954-1956, the version of narrative presented contrasted widely with the mainstream perceptions of the Chinese middle schools students of the period. Despite being a key participant in the protests, the majority of the focus has been placed on the communist groups and less on the Chinese students themselves. This thesis thus is an attempt to re-evaluate the communist myth that were associated with the Chinese students with the new primary sources. By adopting a framework that links state formation and education, the analysis of the students’ riots will be explored in the context of educational policies adopted by the pre- and post- colonial governments back then.