Hong Kong protesters deeply identify with nature, a reference to the current environmental crisis but also a fluid conception of collective action that is inscribed in ancient Chinese tradition.
Hongzhi Gao, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington and Ivy Guo, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington
So far, New Zealand exporters have not been affected by the trade war between the US and China, but the Hong Kong crisis could easily embroil any foreign company.
Revolutions are built not on deep misery but on rising expectations. History may not provide much hope of immediate change in Hong Kong – but protesters may have a longer view.
After months of respecting the boundaries of university campuses, the Hong Kong police moved in to make arrests. Now, protesters are defending what had once been sanctified spaces.
Protest, or the lack of it, can reveal one’s priorities and values. In failing to stand up to China, LeBron James and the NBA told us something about theirs.
The National Basketball Association’s difficulty dealing with a tweet in support of Hong Kong protesters shows the challenges of having values and expanding into new markets.
The majority of students from China come to Australia to learn English and be exposed to a different culture. This helps them get a competitive edge over graduates in their home country.
If the protesters can channel their energy in a more lasting, organised way, they may be able to achieve even more than the “five demands”. Could the French Revolution be a source of inspiration?
The most likely explanation for the unrest lies not in Beijing’s influence over the city, but rather the nature of Hong Kong government and society itself.