Exclusivity and Cosmopolitanism

Multi-Ethnic Civil Society in Interwar Hong Kong

Bibliographic Data

ID8957283
AuthorsVivian Kong (0000-0001-6072-5431, University of Bristol, corresponding author)
Year2020
Volume63
Issue5
Pages1281-1302
Publication date2020-05-27
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueThe Historical Journal (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0018-246X • E-ISSN: 1469-5103
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s0018246x20000138
OpenAlexW3031457957
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited29

While recent work has shown that interwar Asian civic associational culture was becoming more plural than previously understood, scholars focus mostly on transnational networks and neglect local associations co-existing in the colonial urban space. We also know little about how internationalist and liberal ideals interacted with notions of racial and national exclusion prevalent in the wider society. To overcome this, this article examines local organizations alongside transnational networks in interwar Hong Kong to understand fully how global trends in the interwar period affected colonial civic culture. Drawing on Freemasonry, Rotary, the League of Fellowship, and the Kowloon Residents’ Association, I discuss the aspirations of multi-racial urbanites in interwar Hong Kong and their limits. I argue that, while internationalism and colonial hierarchies allowed solidarity to be forged amongst multi-racial urbanites and encouraged their civic engagements, racism embedded in the society, rising nationalism, and constitutional constraints put limitations on their aspirations

Colonialism · Cosmopolitanism · Internationalism (politics · Interwar period · Nationalism · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Racism · Sociology · Solidarity · World War II · Gender Studies · Hong Kong and Taiwan Politics · Law · Philippine History and Culture · Socioeconomic Development in Asia

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Open DOIOpen Access