Social Transformation and the Rise of Protests, 2003–2014

Abstract

This chapter places the Umbrella Movement against the background of the rise of social protests in Hong Kong in the previous 15 years. The development of Hong Kong as a social movement society was traced by the rising number of protests, the diversity of issues addressed and organizers, the increasing level of acceptance of protests by the general public, and the rising levels of generalized protest potential and collective efficacy. The chapter also discusses the precedents and transformation of Internet-based citizen self-mobilization in Hong Kong since 2003. The chapter ends with a discussion of value changes in the population and the emergence of substantial generational differences on value orientations and social perceptions.