The transformation of political culture in Hong Kong: Tracing the decline of protest space

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Abstract

While it is obvious that the space for protests in Hong Kong has declined significantly, it is far less apparent how the political culture has been transformed. Based on an analytical framework using the Lefebvrian concept of space, the paper draws on the July 1st protest march to trace how the political space of the population has been reduced. Relatively quickly, Hong Kong has transformed from a vibrant civil society to one marked by fear and self-censorship similar to other authoritarian regimes. Following an expansion of protest space during the 2019 anti-extradition bill movement, the Chinese government has enacted a National Security Law to eliminate most political activism. The study shows the success of the government’s repression although the long-term impact is not yet clear.

Original languageEnglish
JournalAsian Affairs(UK)
DOIs
Publication statusAccepted/In press - 2024

Keywords

  • autocratization
  • Hong Kong
  • political culture
  • protest space
  • repression

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