Understanding the Political Culture of Hong Kong: The Paradox of Activism and Depoliticization

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. Introduction; Chapter 1 A Critique of the Claims of Political Indifference; Chapter 2 An Alternative Understanding of Political Participation; Chapter 3 A Multiple-Case Interpretive Approach; Chapter 4 Rebutting the Minimal Political Participation Claim; Chapter 5 Rediscovering Politics; Chapter 6 Rediscovering Politics; Chapter 7 Rediscovering Politics; Chapter 8 Political Discourses and Political Activism; Chapter 9 The Culture of Depoliticization and Political Activism; Chapter 10 Conclusion; epilogue Epilogue;