ABSTRACT
Sidney Tarrow defines social movement as "collective challenges, based on common purposes and social solidarities, in sustained interaction with elites, opponents, and authorities". The causes or triggers for a high-tide democracy movement vary from country to country. Democratic transition usually follows high-tide democracy movement, but not all democracy movements will result in democratization. Nor do they always lead to a democratic soft landing and consolidation. According to the political process model, successful social movements depend on factors such as the political opportunity structure, mobilization network, protest repertoire, and the collective action frame. Democracy movements have been an integral part of China's modernization. The 1989 democracy movement posed an unprecedented challenge to the one-party system. Violent crackdown on the movement severely damaged the image of the Chinese government inside the country and internationally. Democracy movements need a mobilizational network or organization to succeed.
