The Pulse of Hong Kong: A Journey Through Unrest
In December 2019, I found myself in Hong Kong, enveloped by a palpable sense of tension. For several months, young activists had taken to the streets, passionately protesting against the encroaching influence of the Chinese Communist Party on what had been envisioned as a self-governing, democratic society. Graffiti adorned the walls, with bold proclamations like: “Save Hong Kong! If we burn, you burn with us!” It was evident that the protesters understood the gravity of their situation; they recognized that their movement was likely doomed. It was a final, desperate assertion of democratic identity before it faced obliteration under a new regime that viewed democracy as an inherent threat.
During my visit, I met with a government official who was on the brink of resigning. I mentioned that I was writing a book focused on the rise of authoritarian nationalism. He leaned in, his voice low yet intense, and shared his thoughts: “The nationalism observed in the U.S. and Europe has distinct roots. Your narrative took shape following the financial crisis of 2008, a pivotal moment when liberalism began to falter. People’s faith in the liberal democratic model was shaken as they witnessed its failures. This narrative didn’t just remain isolated; it resonated within China as well, prompting a reevaluation of whether we should adhere to a Western model at all.” We sat in a hotel lounge, the invisible currents of capitalism and authoritarianism swirling around us, a stark reminder of the cultural divide between the elites and the working class. “Both East and West have seen nationalist movements rise as a reaction to the disintegration of the Western model,” he elaborated.
Everything I had observed corroborated his claims. My eight years in the Obama White House, navigating the tumultuous waters of post-crisis politics, felt like an uphill battle against the surging currents of global affairs. The radicalization of the Republican Party signaled a rejection of liberal democracy at home, mirroring far-right leaders like Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who openly advocated for an “illiberal democracy” — a euphemism for a nationalism steeped in blood and soil. Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin in Russia set out to undermine, if not dismantle, the liberal order that the United States had championed. In China, Xi Jinping pivoted Beijing’s strategy from integration into the global order towards the creation of a distinct system, one stripped of democratic values. Barack Obama’s political acumen and cultural resonance allowed him to adeptly navigate these currents, but such skills did not seamlessly translate to other Democrats.
Donald Trump’s unexpected victory shattered my liberal convictions about the inexorable progression of justice: “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” For the past eight years, outside the confines of government, I have engaged with opposition figures across the globe, and I have encountered variations of the same narrative everywhere. The aftermath of the Cold War saw globalization erode individuals’ senses of security and identity.
In the West, the rise of neoliberalism — a potent mix of free trade, deregulation, and an unwavering allegiance to financial markets — devastated communities while enriching a select global oligarchy. Concurrently, a homogenized and often superficial popular culture eroded traditional national and religious identities. Following the tragic events of 9/11, the war on terror was co-opted by authoritarian leaders such as Putin, who wielded it as a justification for power grabs, while perpetual conflicts fueled waves of mass migration. The financial crisis struck like a devastating storm, dismantling the lives of those already struggling, while the wealthy profited immensely in its wake. The explosion of social media provided a powerful platform to disseminate grievances and conspiracy theories, enabling populist leaders to radicalize their bases with algorithmic precision.
The blueprint for transforming a democracy into a soft autocracy became glaringly evident: seize power through a populist message that pits the masses against the elites. This involved:
- Redrawing electoral districts to favor one party.
- Altering voting laws to suppress dissent.
- Attacking civil society organizations.
- Packing courts with judges sympathetic to authoritarian maneuvers.
- Engaging in corrupt practices to enrich loyal allies.
- Acquiring media outlets to turn them into propaganda tools.
- Utilizing social media to galvanize support.
All of this is wrapped in a compelling Us versus Them narrative: Us, the “real” Russians, Hungarians, or Americans, standing united against a constantly shifting array of Them: migrants, Muslims, liberals, the LGBTQ+ community, and figures like George Soros, and many others.
