Understanding the Political Culture of Hong Kong: The Paradox of Activism and Depoliticization (Hong Kong Becoming China) - Softcover

Wai-Man, Lam

Softcover

ISBN 10: 076561314X ISBN 13: 9780765613141

Publisher: Routledge, 2004

Synopsis

This book challenges the widely held belief that Hong Kong's political culture is one of indifference. The term "political indifference" is used to suggest the apathy, naivete, passivity, and utilitarianism of Hong Kong's people toward political life. Taking a broad historical look at political participation in the former colony, Wai-man Lam argues that this is not a valid view and demonstrates Hong Kong's significant political activism in thirteen selected case studies covering 1949 through the present. Through in-depth analysis of these cases she provides a new understanding of the nature of Hong Kong politics, which can be described as a combination of political activism and a culture of depoliticization.

About this title

Review:

"This book not only debunks the myth of political apathy of the Hong Kong Chinese--an old and absolutely outdated argument made by a few psychoculturalists who constantly view the Hongkongers as possessing a 'partial vision of democracy'--but also uses numerous case studies to prove that Hongkongers were politically active. The protests by half a million Hong Kong people on July 1, 2003 against the Tung Chee-hwa government undoubtedly corroborated the validity of Lam's major argument."

About this edition

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 076561314X
• ISBN 13: 9780765613141
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 320