Almost Democratic: Christian Activism and the Umbrella Movement in Hong Kong
The Umbrella Movement in Hong Kong (2014) read like a living tale of David and Goliath. Peaceful demonstrators held flimsy umbrellas to defend themselves against tear gas, pepper spray, and police batons. While many observers applauded the spontaneity of the citywide protests, little attention has b...
Authors: | ; |
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Format: | Electronic Article |
Language: | English |
Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
Journals Online & Print: | |
Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
Published: |
Brill
2016
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In: |
Exchange
Year: 2016, Volume: 45, Issue: 3, Pages: 252-268 |
RelBib Classification: | CG Christianity and Politics KAJ Church history 1914-; recent history KBM Asia ZC Politics in general |
Further subjects: | B
Hong Kong
Umbrella Movement
China
post-colonialism
democratization
church-state relations
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Online Access: |
Volltext (Verlag) |
Summary: | The Umbrella Movement in Hong Kong (2014) read like a living tale of David and Goliath. Peaceful demonstrators held flimsy umbrellas to defend themselves against tear gas, pepper spray, and police batons. While many observers applauded the spontaneity of the citywide protests, little attention has been paid to the involvement of the Christian church in the prodemocracy struggle. This article draws on field observations and media reports to examine the various societal networks, resources, and mechanisms that Christian and non-Christian actors employed for grassroots mobilization. The crux of discussion is the political and theological polarization of the church, as the Umbrella protest revealed a qualitative shift in the attitude of local Catholics and Protestants toward political awakening and civic engagement. Such findings throw light on the intersection of faith and politics in Hong Kong’s continuous struggle for democratic governance. |
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ISSN: | 1572-543X |
Contains: | In: Exchange
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Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1163/1572543X-12341402 |