Rapid growth and the spread of the internet and mobile phones have enabled Chinese citizens to communicate, vent their grievances and pursue their dreams more freely than before, so long as they do not attack the party.
Although the media often portrays their grievances along ethnic lines, in actual fact, many Chinese scholars, lawyers, environmentalists and businessmen are sympathetic and appreciate that their interests are aligned.
Chinese officials may well have noted, however, that among the demonstrators' hotch-potch of grievances those relating to China's politics were unusually conspicuous .