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Democratization with a Non-Democratic Influence: Investigating Shifts in Beijing's Employment of Soft Power in Hong Kong

Hedlund, Henrik LU (2020) STVK12 20201
Department of Political Science
Abstract
China’s approach and response to democratization in Hong Kong have since the city’s handover back in 1997 been somewhat of a rollercoaster-esque experience. The path towards democracy has for the people of Hong Kong remained an ongoing struggle for nearly 30 years, with recent developments arguably putting an end towards any hope of future realization. This study seeks to investigate and assess Beijing’s response(s) and employment of soft power in Hong Kong, providing potential implications for the process of democratization in the city, past, and present. This thesis operationalizes a theoretical framework built upon the concept of soft power that analyzes shifts in Beijing’s utilization of soft power over two selected cases, the 2014... (More)
China’s approach and response to democratization in Hong Kong have since the city’s handover back in 1997 been somewhat of a rollercoaster-esque experience. The path towards democracy has for the people of Hong Kong remained an ongoing struggle for nearly 30 years, with recent developments arguably putting an end towards any hope of future realization. This study seeks to investigate and assess Beijing’s response(s) and employment of soft power in Hong Kong, providing potential implications for the process of democratization in the city, past, and present. This thesis operationalizes a theoretical framework built upon the concept of soft power that analyzes shifts in Beijing’s utilization of soft power over two selected cases, the 2014 Umbrella movement and the ongoing 2019-20 Hong Kong protests. By examining and comparing response(s) in reference to
shifts in Beijing’s soft power utilization against democratization efforts in Hong Kong, variations over time can then be assessed in terms of their potential implication on processes of democratization. Based on the findings, this thesis argues that identified shifts in Beijing’s employment of soft power response(s) over the two selected cases have been ‘unmasked’ and can currently be more likened to the utilization of sharp power measures instead. Present political developments in Hong Kong showcase
Beijing’s increasing assertiveness that ultimately, indicate a reversed form of democratization taking place in Hong Kong. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Hedlund, Henrik LU
supervisor
organization
course
STVK12 20201
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
Hong Kong, Beijing, Soft Power, Sharp Power, Democratization, Protests, Response.
language
English
id
9011379
date added to LUP
2020-08-05 11:19:48
date last changed
2021-05-19 12:18:10
@misc{9011379,
  abstract     = {{China’s approach and response to democratization in Hong Kong have since the city’s handover back in 1997 been somewhat of a rollercoaster-esque experience. The path towards democracy has for the people of Hong Kong remained an ongoing struggle for nearly 30 years, with recent developments arguably putting an end towards any hope of future realization. This study seeks to investigate and assess Beijing’s response(s) and employment of soft power in Hong Kong, providing potential implications for the process of democratization in the city, past, and present. This thesis operationalizes a theoretical framework built upon the concept of soft power that analyzes shifts in Beijing’s utilization of soft power over two selected cases, the 2014 Umbrella movement and the ongoing 2019-20 Hong Kong protests. By examining and comparing response(s) in reference to
shifts in Beijing’s soft power utilization against democratization efforts in Hong Kong, variations over time can then be assessed in terms of their potential implication on processes of democratization. Based on the findings, this thesis argues that identified shifts in Beijing’s employment of soft power response(s) over the two selected cases have been ‘unmasked’ and can currently be more likened to the utilization of sharp power measures instead. Present political developments in Hong Kong showcase
Beijing’s increasing assertiveness that ultimately, indicate a reversed form of democratization taking place in Hong Kong.}},
  author       = {{Hedlund, Henrik}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Democratization with a Non-Democratic Influence: Investigating Shifts in Beijing's Employment of Soft Power in Hong Kong}},
  year         = {{2020}},
}