Compare how international events affected the responses of East Germany's and China's governments to the

Question

protests of 1989. (1 point)
East Germany was isolated from the more general trend of collapsing communist rule that was occurring in 1989, giving its
government a greater ability to crack down on protesters. In China, the government's ; decision to grant greater civil liberties in
the wake of the 1989 protests was heavily influenced by the success of anti-commun ism in many of its neighboring countries.
The governments of both East Germany and China curtailed civil liberties and became less democratic following the protests
of 1989, making both countries exceptions to the larger global trenc of collapsing communist rule.
The protests in East Germany in 1989 were part of a larger trend of successes in anti-commun ist activism in neighboring
countries making it harder for the governmel t to continue to deny citizens' civi I rights. China was more isolated from this
larger trend so its government was able to assert firmer control over protests.
Both East Germany and China were part of a larger global trend of collapsing communist rule that led their governments to
embrace greater civil liberties and democracy after the protests of 1989.

Answer 1

The responses of East Germany and China's governments to the protests of 1989 were influenced by their unique contexts and the broader international dynamics at play.

1. East Germany's Isolation: East Germany's government faced significant pressure due to the wave of anti-communist sentiment sweeping through Eastern Europe in 1989. However, its geographical and political isolation limited the perceived threat to its regime. This allowed the East German government to respond to protests with a heavy-handed crackdown, reflecting a willingness to maintain control despite the unraveling of communist authority in neighboring states like Poland and Hungary.

2. China's Context: Conversely, while China was also dealing with protests (most notably the Tiananmen Square protests), it was more influenced by the successes of nearby anti-communist movements. The Chinese government was aware of the potential for similar uprisings and had witnessed the collapse of communist regimes in Eastern Europe. This awareness prompted a more cautious approach, as they opted for a violent crackdown rather than accommodating the protests with increased civil liberties, as doing so might embolden further dissent.

In summary, East Germany's ability to suppress protests stemmed from its isolation from the broader anti-communist movements, while China's government, aware of regional dynamics, chose to reinforce its control rather than risk further upheaval. Both regimes ultimately curtailed civil liberties in the aftermath of protests, marking them as exceptions to the wider trend of communism’s collapse.