Written by Matthew Lorence. This article compares Taiwan’s Sunflower Movement and Hong Kong’s Umbrella Movement in 2014. This comparison illustrates how the structural differences between a sovereign democracy and a semi-autonomous territory operating under Beijing’s ultimate authority shaped the fate of each protest. The divergent fates of the two territories reflected precisely what the young people feared and fought so passionately to prevent.
Written by Aleksandrs Gross. This article explores a unique phenomenon that occurred during the recalls – small businesses explicitly voiced their stance on the recalls. This mirrors similar patterns of Hong Kong during the pro-democracy movement in 2019. The author interviewed three pro-recall businesses to understand their stance and how they encourage constructive discussion without alienating opponents.
Written by Alex Yong Kang Chow. This article offers insights into the anti-imperial struggles of the Taiwanese and Hong Kong diasporas through the book Island X. This article contextualises the diaspora experiences historically through Cold War geopolitics and left-leaning activism since the 1970s.
Written by Malte Philipp Kaeding. This article argues for the important identity-formation process of the Umbrella movement and beyond in Hong Kong, asking the question of what is Hong Kong and what does it mean to be a Hongkonger. This process was inspired by the Sunflower Movement and the Taiwanese success in building a unique identity vis-a-vis China.
Written by Brian Hioe. The geopolitical fates diverged significantly in the past decade since the Sunflower and Umbrella Movements broke out ten years ago. Nevertheless, this article analyses the political interactions between Hong Kong and Taiwan in terms of movement activists and electoral politics. The author argues that these exchanges are expected to continue.
Written by Adrian Chiu. This special issue presents a brilliant line-up of scholars and observers of the two movements which provides insights and perspectives to analyse and reflect on the tenth anniversary of the Sunflower and Umbrella Movements. This introductory piece briefly sets the scene for their excellent analysis by reviewing some of the significant political changes both internationally and domestically.
