Legal mobilization under authoritarianism : the case of post-colonial Hong Kong

Document Type

Book

Publication Date

2012

Publisher

Cambridge University Press

Abstract

Legal mobilization is the process by which individuals invoke their legal rights and use litigation to defend or develop these rights against the government. In recent years, increasing attention has been paid to this phenomenon as it occurs under authoritarian regimes. It is often suggested that, in such situations, legal mobilization is caused by the strategic interests of the ruling elites. Using the case study of post-colonial Hong Kong, where legal mobilization has by no means unfolded as political authorities would wish, Waikeung Tam casts doubt on this contention. To do so, he examines in depth why and how legal mobilization arises under authoritarianism. Tam analyses quantitative data of changes in the Hong Kong judiciary agendas over the last three decades and uses detailed interviews with activists, politicians, cause lawyers, judges and government officials to reveal the complex underlying socio-political forces at play.

DOI

10.1017/CBO9781139424394

ISBN

9781107031999

Publisher Statement

Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.

Full-text Version

Publisher’s Version

Language

English

Recommended Citation

Tam, W. (2012). Legal mobilization under authoritarianism: The case of post-colonial Hong Kong. New York: Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/CBO9781139424394

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