Part 6/9:
A Double-Edged Sword
Deng’s pragmatic approach achieved remarkable results—a departure from the rigid, ideological policies that had characterized previous decades. However, amidst these reforms lurked the paradox of the system he was perpetuating—a totalitarian regime under a thin veneer of responsiveness. As Deng facilitated rapid economic growth and modernization, he also effectively stifled any legitimate political dissent. The violent crackdown in Tiananmen Square during the protest of 1989 starkly illustrated the contradictions within his leadership; the progress made in freeing the economy stood in stark contrast to the repression of political freedoms.