Beyond the Binary Relationship between Initiators and Followers: A Comparison of the Repertoires of Disability Rights Movements in the United States as an Initiator and in Hong Kong and Korea as Followers

Abstract

What determines the repertoires of social movement in East Asia? By comparing the movements towards anti-discrimination legislation in the United States, Hong Kong and Korea, this paper aims to contribute new perspectives to the theory of repertoires in social movement theory and to promote a better understanding of the societies in East Asia. In previous studies, domestic factors (political settings and existing repertoires) and a bilateral factor (diffusion from the West to the East) have been shown to be the determining factors. Using case studies of disability rights movements, this paper shows that the political setting and existing repertoires are interconnected and determine the expressive and organizational repertoires. In addition, the influence of international institutions is important for the choice of repertoires. Moreover, this study demonstrates that people in disability rights movements in East Asia have an identity as members of the global society. This case study shows that it is necessa...