Two Chinese Rulers Making The Same History?

As Chinese rulers 'behind the screens', the Dowager Empress Ci Xi of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and the present 'Supreme Helmsman', Deng Xiaoping, seem to be poles apart. Ci Xi has gone down in Chinese history as a notorious conservative, while Deng retains a certain reputation for China's current economic reforms. Nevertheless in reality both figures have contributed to the same history. They both permitted two significant advances towards modernisation in Chinese Society, but suppressed the two attendant movements of radical reform and democracy.

The first period of advance, or rather, a movement of Westernisation took place between 1862 and 1894, largely during the period of Ci Xi's dominance. During this time, schools were created for the study of foreign languages, students were sent to study abroad, Western technology and industrialisation were introduced, a modern navy and customs system were set up and the first Chinese foreign service office introduced.