Politics and Change in Singapore and Hong Kong
In democratization theory, Singapore continues to be a remarkable country for its extremely low level of contentious politics despite rapid economic development. In contrast, many different groups in Hong Kong have taken their demands to the streets since the 1970s. Even though there is an obvious difference in the willingness of the population to actively challenge the regime, the political developments of the two city-states show a similar pattern of political mobilization and government reaction.
This book examines the changing pattern of contentious politics in the democratization process of these Asian city-states. It explores the causal connections between popular contention and democratization, using a multi-disciplinary approach with theoretical insights from the political sciences, sociology and psychology. The political process model is applied to provide further understanding of the patterns of interaction between contenders, opposition groups or social movements and the ruling elite. The book argues that differences in the strategies applied by the ruling elite explain why members of the opposition were empowered or obstructed in challenging the government.
Stephan Ortmann is Assistant Professor of Comparative Politics at the Fern Universitt in Hagen, Germany. He is the author of Managed Crisis: Legitimacy and the National Threat in Singapore (2009).
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15 Preventing Corruption in Asia
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16 Expansion of Trade and FDI in Asia
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21 Politics and Change in Singapore and Hong Kong
Containing Contention
Stephan Ortmann
First published 2010
by Routledge
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2010 Stephan Ortmann
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Taylor & Francis Books
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Politics and change in Singapore and Hong Kong: containing contention / Stephan Ortmann.
p. cm. (Routledge contemporary Asia series; 21)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. SingaporePolitics and government1965-1990. 2. SingaporePolitics and government1990-3. Protest movementsSingapore. 4. Opposition (Political science)Singapore. 5. Hong Kong (China)Politics and government. 6. Protest movementsHong Kong. 7. Opposition (Political science)Hong Kong, I. Title.
JQ1063.A91.O77 2009
320.95125dc22
2009015978
ISBN 978-0-415-55291-2 (hbk)
ISBN 978-0-203-86769-3 (ebk)
This book is dedicated to my wife, Hongzhuan Li, whose loving support always kept me focused.