Beyond the liberal studies classroom : students as learners of citizenship in the "umbrella movement" in Hong Kong

Abstract

The Umbrella Movement resulted in widespread occupations expanding from Admiralty to Causeway Bay, and Mongkok for more than two months in 2014. With its slogan of “Peaceful, Rational, Non-violent and No-swearing,” this movement has been under the spotlight of many international media and highly appreciated by the international societies because it projected a highly “civil” image to the world. Since the movement was mainly organized, led and sustained by students, and young people will grow up to become future pillars of the Hong Kong society, it is valuable and meaningful to gain more understanding why they participated or did not participate into this movement, and how they the perceive, understand and develop the concept of citizenship in response to the movement. From the interviews with students who have different participation levels in the movement, key aspects considered as learning of citizenship in the Umbrella Movement are identified from their perspective. Hopefully, this research dissertation will enlighten some possible directions and ways how citizenship can be experienced among young students in local context.