Why Crises Matter: Crisis-Provoking Politics and State–Society Interactions in Post-1997 Hong Kong

Based on newspaper analyses and in-depth interviews, this article argues that the hybrid political system with civil liberties in post-1997 Hong Kong has created a unique polity within the tense state–society relationship. This article posits that crisis politics in Hong Kong has undergone a politicisation process brought about by non-state activists with the intention of pressing for government change. In the absence of full democracy, the escalation of issues into crises by intensifying political pressure through the media and public opinion has become a possible means to manipulate government decisions.