The COVID-19 protests in China: a revival of dissent demonstrations

Abstract

The research conducted in this thesis provides a comprehensive and timely depiction of Chinese civil society and its various modes of expressing dissent. The selection of the subject arises from the desire to investigate the wave of protests against COVID-19 measures that spread throughout China in November 2022. The main goal is to examine various instances of banners and billboards that appeared during the events, by placing them within a broader context and drawing connections to past occurrences. In the process, it will be inevitable to engage in a comparison with the Tiananmen protests of 1989, the movement that epitomises the pinnacle of social grievances from the previous century. The inquiry that arises during the research revolves around the possibility that such an awakening of social consciousness could be reflected in a shift in leadership and policies. The first chapter will examine numerous instances of public dissent demonstrations that have marked the history of modern China. This aims to establish a historical context for contemporary events and to analyse the different responses of governments and their corresponding governance frameworks. Subsequently, the second chapter will focus on policies directly linked to pandemic events and protests, such as the A4 revolution. In conclusion, the third chapter will contain an analysis of banners and billboards that appeared during the protests and were collected through social media posts.