Title
The forgotten road of progressive localism : new preservation movement in Hong Kong
Document Type
Journal article
Source Publication
Inter-Asia Cultural Studies
Publication Date
1-1-2015
Volume
16
Issue
3
First Page
436
Last Page
453
Publisher
Taylor and Francis Ltd.
Keywords
community movement, democratization, Hong Kong, localism, New Preservation Movement
Abstract
Localism has become dominant in mainstream Hong Kong identity politics after the occupation period of the Umbrella Movement. This localism demonstrates the will of Hong Kong people to reclaim their own destiny, to reject the authoritarian rule of Beijing and to reclaim unique local cultural identities as different from China, e.g. uphold universal values and cosmopolitanism. However, this localism neither shares a unified cultural imaginary and symbolic order nor a single operational logic. There are at least two major kinds of localism in Hong Kong, i.e. one whose logic is based on anti-China blaming of the immigrant (i.e. xenophobia and exclusionary politics), and one whose modus operandi is to rebuild local communities (i.e. based on progressive, participatory, democratic values of inclusion, diversity and empowerment of the weak). These two polarized localisms often coexist. The question is which one takes the lead or even becomes hegemonic in a situation or context. This article re-examines the emergence and transformation of localism in the last decade through participant observation in Hong Kong urban social movements. Instead of explaining why xenophobic localism (blaming the immigrant) becomes a dominant political power, we will take a closer look at the transformation of the progressive and recalcitrant “localism through community rebuilding movement,” or simply New Preservation Movement as the actually existing alternative.
DOI
10.1080/14649373.2015.1071694
Print ISSN
14649373
E-ISSN
14698447
Publisher Statement
Copyright © 2015, © Yun-Chung CHEN, Mirana M. SZETO (2015). All Rights Reserved. Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.
Full-text Version
Publisher’s Version
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Chen, Y.-c., & Szeto, M. M. (2015). The forgotten road of progressive localism: New preservation movement in Hong Kong. Inter-Asia Cultural Studies, 16(3), 436-453. doi: 10.1080/14649373.2015.1071694
