Learn to disobey: Evolution of “civil disobedience” and the transforming sociopolitical context of Hong Kong

Abstract

This article analyzes the collective action frame and its interaction with the sociopolitical context of Hong Kong. By tracing the history of civil disobedience, the authors argues that civil disobedience in Hong Kong has been localized by signifying agents as a spontaneous response to the sociopolitical contexts, rather than a planned action. The rapidly changing political environment and sovereignty issues from 1980 onwards had restricted the favorability for opting a planned civil disobedience movement. Through in-depth interviews with protagonists, major civil disobedience attempts in Hong Kong, including (a) Yau Ma Tei Boat People Incident, (b) Protest regarding 1989 China's June Fourth Incident, (c) Anti-Public Order Ordinance Demonstrations, and (d) Citizens' Radio Incident, are discussed. These four cases would be contrasted with the well-planned Occupy Central Movement in 2014 to explain why the latter failed to materialize, and why future attempts of civil disobedience will become less possible in