Exporting autocracy: how China's extra-jurisdictional autocratic influence caused democratic backsliding in Hong Kong. Issue 1 (2nd January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fong, Brian C. H.
• Is Part Of: Democratization. Volume 28:Issue 1(2021)
• Page Start: 198
• Page End: 218
• Publication Date: 2021-01-02
• Subjects: democratic backsliding -- exporting autocracy -- non-sovereignty -- China -- Hong Kong; Democracy -- Periodicals; Economic history -- 1990- -- Periodicals; Democratization -- Periodicals; 321.8
• DOI: 10.1080/13510347.2020.1851202
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1351-0347

Abstract

ABSTRACT: In the global trend of democratic backsliding, Hong Kong provides an illustrative case of how democratic institutions could be degenerated by "exporting autocracy". After 1997, Hong Kong's semi-democracy has come under continuous pressure by China's extra-jurisdictional autocratic influence. When about two decades of exporting autocracy has almost made Hong Kong a semi-democratic façade, China imposed the National Security Law in June 2020 placing the last straw that breaks its semi-democracy. The case study of Hong Kong offers comparative observations about China's exporting autocracy across its surrounding jurisdictions in the Asia-Pacific region.