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 "e;political indifference"e; 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.