There’s an exhibition in Beijing right now with photos taken by a German journalist on two separate trips to China, one in 1976 and one in 2006. On both trips, he took photos in the same or similar locations, so the pictures really bring out the changes that have taken place over the past 30 years. You can see some of the photos here.
The biggest change? Apparently the world in 1976 was mostly black and white. Weird.
Nowadays North Korea is, to some degree, like the 80s China. Perhaps there are somethings common in the society embracing authoritarianism. And even now in China, coercion to the free ideology exists everywhere, just recessive compared than those days. I can not helping ask: What on earth would be the Chinese Gov fear for?!
Interesting point! And I agree, it seems like they shouldn’t have anything to be afraid of… they should let me log onto facebook again!