Dreams of Democracy: How a "Modern" China Suppressed Hong Kong Hopes
Abstract
In 1997, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) passed the Basic Law and the United Kingdom transferred Hong Kong sovereignty to China. The Hong Kong Basic Law established the "one country, two systems" construct, designed to protect freedoms of speech and assembly while establishing a goal of universal suffrage by 2047. Tensions between Beijing's authoritarian government and Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement culminated in 2020 when the CCP passed the National Security Law, effectively crushing Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement and eradicating the freedoms and autonomy established in the Basic Law. Most case studies on Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement center on authoritarianism, hybrid regime categorization, or authoritarian repression tools used to suppress social and political movements. This research paper finds the CCP's suppression of the Hong Kong pro-democracy movement is actually a reflection of the CCP's ability to reframe the movement into an issue of foreign intervention and sovereignty, the CCP's deftness in applying all instruments of its national power to address the movement, and the CCP's assertion of its great power status. This paper's findings entail implications for national security professionals, as well social and political conflict scholars. This paper urges a more comprehensive approach to studying China in order to avoid further deterioration of democratic dreams across the globe.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 20, 2021
- Accession Number
- AD1178072
Entities
People
- David R. Laine
Organizations
- Marine Corps University