Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: ABSTRACT This study analyses the contested collective memories of the 2019 Anti‐Extradition Law Amendment Bill (Anti‐ELAB) movement, investigating how the Hong Kong government and diaspora construct divergent narratives to shape national identity and nationalism. Employing a mixed‐methods approach that combines corpus linguistic techniques and qualitative discourse analysis, this research identifies the government's use of language to reinforce state‐centric Chinese nationalism and delegitimize dissent, portraying the movement as a critical security threat. Conversely, diasporic narratives, often articulated on digital platforms, emphasize democratic values, resistance and solidarity, fostering an alternative Hong Kong nationalism rooted in local identity and transnational connections. These competing discourses demonstrate collective memory's dual function as both an instrument of state power and a potent resource for resistance. By situating these narratives within broader discussions of nationalism and identity, the study illuminates the interplay between authoritarian control and grassroots resistance, deepening understanding of nationalism in contested political spaces.
Source: Nations and Nationalism
DOI: 10.1111/nana.70014
Author: Isaac Iu
Institution: Monash University
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,750
Funder: Monash University
OpenAlex ID: W4413865537