Towards governmentality with Chinese characteristics: higher education policy discourses in post-colonial Hong Kong and Macao

Lo, William Yat Wai

Abstract

This article examines the intertwining and evolution of neoliberal and nationalist discourses in post-colonial Hong Kong and Macao, arguing that their combination reveals the dual layers of political rationality in the dynamics of higher education policymaking. It suggests a move towards governmentality with Chinese characteristics, marked by gradual and continuous shifts towards decolonisation and re-Sinicisation within the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ framework. This perspective contrasts with existing literature on Hong Kong that emphasises the maintenance of the colonial status quo and points out abrupt changes due to the 2019 protests and the 2020 National Security Law. By analysing the reconfiguration of governmentality in the higher education systems of these post-colonial Chinese societies amid changing political landscapes, the article sheds light on both the incremental changes and significant moments influencing the trajectory of higher education development in Hong Kong and Macao.

摘要
本文檢視新自由主義和民族主義論述在後殖民時代香港和澳門的交織與演變，認為它們的結合揭示了高等教育政策制定動態中政治理性的雙重性。研究表明，具有中國特色的治理性得以發展，其標誌是在「一國兩制」的框架內逐步、持續地向去殖民化和再中國化轉變。這一觀點與強調維持香港殖民現狀，並指出了2019年的抗議活動和2020年的《國家安全法》所帶來的劇變的現有文獻形成鮮明對比。本文透過分析這些中國後殖民地社會不斷變化的政治格局中高等教育體系治理性的重構，揭示了影響香港和澳門高等教育發展軌蹟的漸進變化和重要時刻。

Citation

Lo, W. Y. W. (2024). Towards governmentality with Chinese characteristics: higher education policy discourses in post-colonial Hong Kong and Macao. Comparative Education, 60(4), 626-646. https://doi.org/10.1080/03050068.2024.2335014

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 8, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Apr 17, 2024
• Publication Date: 2024
• Deposit Date: Apr 27, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 29, 2024
• Journal: Comparative Education
• Print ISSN: 0305-0068
• Electronic ISSN: 1360-0486
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 60
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 626-646
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03050068.2024.2335014
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/2407550