“Living in truth” versus realpolitik: limitations and potentials of the Umbrella Movement

TLDR: In this article, the authors analyze realpolitik and its limitation and its transformative potential for Hong Kong, drawing on Vaclav Havel's notion of living in truth, as a long-term project aimed at changing the predominant colonial mentality and cynical culture in the contemporary Hong Kong social context.

Abstract: This paper is concerned with the social context in which the Umbrella Movement emerged in Hong Kong in 2014. It aims to analyze its limitation and transformative potential for Hong Kong. It attempts to review the changing socio-cultural dynamics in the past few years, with a focus on the notion of realpolitik that has significantly disrupted the processes of developing a public vision of an alternative society, as well as undermined people's mutual trust and right to non-conformity. In presenting our analysis, the authors attempt to think through the transformative potential of civil disobedience, drawing on Vaclav Havel's notion of “living in truth,” as a long-term project aimed at changing the predominant colonial mentality and cynical culture in the contemporary Hong Kong social context.