The May Fourth Movement

This podcast episode of "In Our Time" features a panel discussion with Rana Mitter, Elisabeth Forster, and Song-Chuan Chen, moderated by Melvyn Bragg, focusing on the May Fourth Movement in China. The discussion covers the historical context of early 20th-century China, including imperialism and warlordism, the intellectual climate, and the impact of World War I. The panel explores the New Culture Movement, key figures like Chen Duxiu and Hu Shi, and the significance of the May Fourth demonstrations sparked by the Versailles Treaty. They delve into the movement's advocacy for science, democracy, language reform, and its lasting impact on Chinese society, including the rise of communism and anti-Japanese sentiment, and how the movement is commemorated and interpreted in modern China.