A divided society

Abstract

In 2014, the Occupy Central (OC) Movement in Hong Kong and the Sunflower Movement in Taiwan were heated topics worldwide, and within China this was no exception. Between the two high-profile movements, the former has attracted more attention in Chinese media and society since it was directly related to the “one country, two systems” policy. In fact, the OC Movement is the first widely reported and discussed democratic movement that has occurred within PRC territory since the 1989 Tiananmen Square movement. It thus provides a rare opportunity to observe Chinese public opinion, especially as regards democracy and civil disobedience in the post-1989 era. Although there have been empirical studies on the participants in the OC Movement, as well as on the influence of the China factor on the Sunflower Movement, no systematic research has been conducted with regard to public opinion towards the two movements and the relevant issues involved in each. As more and more activists, scholars, and politicians realize that the development of democracy in Mainland China is vital for that in Hong Kong—and perhaps even in Taiwan—the consciousness of democracy and the rule of law for Mainland Chinese is certainly one of the key factors worth observing in the discussion on the development of democracy and political movements throughout the three regions. This chapter examines public opinion on the two civil disobedience movements in Hong Kong and Taiwan, with a focus on the former. Questionnaire surveys were conducted with Mainland Chinese citizens to evaluate the consciousness of democracy and the rule of law, and also to explore the gap between ordinary citizens and the weiquan (rights defence) sector. The article attempts to provide answers to some bewildering developments of democracy and liberalism under China’s authoritarianism, such as the passivity of a wider civil society towards democracy and the emergence of young elites who have been educated overseas, but who remain critical of the “western-style” democracy and liberalism. It also provides some perspective for the weiquan sector in Mainland China and the civil societies in Hong Kong and Taiwan, regarding the opportunities and obstacles they face in mobilizing wider public support for rights campaigns and democratic movements. The survey was designed to answer the following questions: (1) How do Chinese citizens view the OC and Sunflower Movements? What is the gap between the consciousness of common citizens and the weiquan sector, and what is the difference between citizens in Mainland China and their counterparts overseas (particularly in Hong Kong)? (2) In the opinion of Chinese citizens, is there any difference between democracy and the rule of law? Does nationalism influence their opinions on the OC Movement, democracy and rule of law? (3) Does free access to information and media influence the opinions of Mainland Chinese towards social movements, democracy and the rule of law?