Donating to the fight for democracy: The connective activism of overseas Hong Kongers and Taiwanese in the 2019 Anti-extradition Bill Movement

Abstract

The 2019 Anti-extradition Bill Movement in Hong Kong has generated global support through both the narrative side as well as material donations. This article compares global support networks organized by Taiwanese and overseas Hong Kongers. Drawing on the interview data with 17 Taiwanese and 13 overseas Hong Kongers regarding the reasons, processes, and meanings of donation to Hong Kong protesters, we found that even both groups organized support networks in different ways and have different perceived risks and motivations, they both engage in diaspora activism around the idea of democracy after considering the shared/imagined political future (vis-a-vis China). By examining Hong Konger and Taiwanese support networks, this article contributes to the field of diaspora activism and global networks by proposing a more nuanced concept of connective diaspora activism that features a diasporic democracy network—a network which is based on shared beliefs and gradual understanding of each other’s experience as well as imagined political future.