Other diplomacies and Canadianness: Hong Kong-resident Canadians and the Occupy Central and Umbrella Movement protests

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study examines the diplomatic practices of Hong Kong-resident Canadian nationals responding to the 2014 Occupy Central and Umbrella Movement. One of Hong Kong’s largest “foreign” populations and the second largest concentration of Canadians abroad, this population was mostly Hong Kong-born, dual nationals/residents and class privileged. Using an “other diplomacies” framework, the analysis examines how they represented Canadianness and identified/interpreted foreignness, practices with diplomatic characteristics even when performed by non-state actors. Drawing from 50 semi-structured interviews, the study found that in-betweenness and class shaped diplomatic practices. Interviewees often represented Canadianness as transnational/multi-jurisdictional, embodying liberal democratic values shared with Hong Kong and other jurisdictions/societies. Despite PRC government allegations that foreign forces and powers fomented the protests, most interviewees identified Canadian residents as politically non-foreign in Hong Kong and were broadly pro-protest. However, some disagreed with each other and the Canadian government over the reconciliation of business interests with representations of Canadianness. The findings, although tentative given data limitations, provide a rare glimpse of overseas Canadians’ diplomatic practices during Hong Kong’s ongoing, intensifying cycle of anti-government demonstrations. They suggest potential diplomatic and foreign policy challenges for the Canadian government confronting a rising PRC and underscore the need for more research on the political dimensions of Canadians abroad.