<p>The Tiananmen Square protest in 1989 failed not because of its message or cause. In theory, what the students were demanding are perfectly legitimate. However, there is a large gap between theory and reality. What went wrong with Tiananment was the timing of the event. 1980s China was a very different country from what it is right now. At the time, half the country was still hanging on the poverty line. The 800 million peasantry had no knowledge or regard for whatever political reform taking place. All they wanted was a piece of land, a peaceful state of things, and a good price to sell their wheat. At the current moment, China is trying to build a solid economic basis, in order lay the ground work for a smooth political transition in the future. If the Tiananmen protests were to take place 15 years from now, it will most likely yield more promising results and higher support.</p>