The Ties that Bind?: International Linkages and the Hong Kong Democracy Movement

• In Event: International Influences on Democratization

Abstract

Recent literature has highlighted the importance of international linkages to successful democratization struggles (Levitsky and Way 2010, Schock 2005, Bunce and Wolchik 2010). Levitsky and Way define international linkages as being political, economic, diplomatic, social, and cultural ties between the populations of different countries (2010). International linkages can increase the ability of the civil society organizations and opposition political parties by augmenting the number of resources and techniques available (Tarrow 2011, Bunce and Wolchik 2010). Moreover, the international spotlight can also decrease the likelihood of repression(Levitsky and Way 2010, Schock 2005).
As a former British colony, Hong Kong, a Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, has many international linkages, including a large diaspora, leaders with business and educational ties to western countries, and numerous international trade and financial ties. Moreover, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights were both written into the Basic Law, Hong Kong’s mini-constitution. Yet these linkages have varied in their impact on the success of democratic movement organizations' efforts to increase pluralism within the territory. While Hong Kong activists were able to elicit international government support for their movement against treason and sedition legislation in 2003, they were unable to get similar support for Umbrella Movement in 2014.
This paper maintains that the effect of linkages depends on the international context. Bunce (1995) highlighted the role of international contexts in regime transitions, contending that factors such as economic aid, access to international institutions and alliances, as well as the priorities of major powers, affect the outcome of regime transitions. Based on interview, participant observation, and archival research conducted between 2016 and 2018, this paper uses process-tracing to examines how changing international context, such as the Asian Financial Crisis of 1997, China’s entry into the World Trade Organization, and the Global Financial Crisis of 2008 influenced the Hong Kong democracy movement organizations’ ability to capitalize on international linkages between 1997 and 2016.

Author

• Jessica Mahlbacher, Graduate Center, City University of New York