I am Speaking at National Library in Ottawa on January 15 at 7:30pm

The Reforms of Deng Xiaoping

by Professor Charles Burton

of Brock University

Thursday, January 15, 2009 at 7:30 p.m.

Library and Archives Canada, Room 156

395 Wellington Street, Ottawa

All are welcome.*

In the context of the 30^th anniversary year of the opening and reform policies of the new China, Professor Burton will review Chinese politics and economics prior to reform and opening up. He will take us through the momentous events of 1976, “The Year of the Dragon” starting with the April 5, 1976 movement (the Tiananmen people’s homage to the recently deceased Zhou Enlai), the consolidation of power by Mao’s political heir Hua Guofeng, his rivalry with Deng Xiaoping, and the October purge of the "Gang of Four". He will look at the factors accounting for Deng Xiaoping's rise to power and show why Deng's strategy to stimulate the economy while ensuring political and social stability proved very successful. He will then take us through the politics and economics in China after Deng Xiaoping's 1992 "Southern Tour" and the impact of Communist party leaders Zhao Ziyang, Hu Yaobang, Jiang Zemin on the reform policies, leading to the current President Hu Jintao's stamp of approval on Deng Xiaoping's legacy after 30 years of revolution 1949-1979 and 30 years of opening and reform from 1979-2009: What has been gained and what has been lost?

Dr. Burton has been Associate Professor of Political Science at Brock University since 1989. Since 1991 he has been borrowed twice from Brock by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade to work in the Canadian Embassy in Beijing from 1991 to 93 and most recently from 1998 until 2000, as Counsellor for Political Affairs.

Dr. Burton received a Ph.D. from the University of Toronto in 1987 after studies at Cambridge University. He also spent three years at Fudan University in Shanghai in the late 1970s. His first job was with the Communications Security Establishment in the Department of National Defence in Ottawa. He is author and editor of books and articles about China and North Korea, his major fields of research and policy advice.

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As is our custom, tea and refreshments will be served. There will be a charge of $5 for non-CCFS members. The CCFS-Ottawa Annual Membership is $20 for individuals, $25 for a family and $12 for students.

For further information about the Society or this event, call L. Merklinger at 819-777-8434 or go to www.fccfa.ca/Ottawa. Membership forms are available at this website.