Living in Cracks: The Dynamic of Political Power and News Media in the Elite-Making Process in Hong Kong

Abstract

Elite representation, or the composition of political elite, a central aspect of modern democracies, has been the subject of extensive study throughout history. Understanding the composition of political elites not only reflects the power distribution within a given society but also shapes the political behavior of prospective members of political elites and the probable career paths of elites within political institutions. By tracing the composition of political elites, we can provide a compelling narrative of societal and political changes over the past decades. However, existing theories often fall short in explaining the complexities and unique challenges faced by political elites in certain political contexts, such as Hong Kong.

In light of these limitations, Hong Kong offers an excellent case that can fill the voids in current theoretical frameworks. The political elite making process in Hong Kong has undergone multiple transformations over the past two decades since the handover. Despite experiencing a generational transformation in the image and composition of political elites, the existing theories that theoretically apply to democratic settings have proven invalid in Hong Kong. For example, candidates without strong industrial grassroots and pro-government support have won competitions that initially required pro-government company and organization endorsement. Thus, this dissertation seeks to address the following research questions: who are the political elites, especially those who have held positions in LegCo? What is the composition of Hong Kong political elites, and what changes have occurred in their composition over the past two decades? What are the mechanisms of political elite elections in Hong Kong, and what characteristics and qualities contribute to an individual’s electoral success? What is the politics-media nexus in Hong Kong political elite making process? Why have some well-known, media-reputable elites lost in electoral competitions that typically require public endorsement while some political newcomers win in another competitions which are mostly power-driven contests? Once elected, what factors enable certain elites to maintain the long-serving elites in power?

The political elite-making process is an intricate and multifaceted phenomenon that has long intrigued political scholars. Classical theories provide numerous notable insights into the composition and recruitment of political elites globally but often prove inadequate in explaining the political elite making process during times of crisis and neglect the diversity of political regime context. Additionally, the advent of the social media era has profoundly altered the power-media dynamic, reshaping the landscape of political elite formation. The pervasive influence of social media calls for a more nuanced understanding that incorporates insights from media sociology and political communication perspective.

To address these shortcomings, this dissertation integrates political elite theory, political communication theory, and media sociology theory in a comprehensive analytical framework. This approach thoroughly reframes the three stages of the political elite-making process: elite composition, elite recruitment, and elite maintenance and renewal. By systematically analyzing each stage, this thesis aims to provide a holistic understanding of the mechanisms and dynamics that shape the formation and sustenance of political elites in the context of a rapidly changing political landscape.

Drawing on longitudinal data analysis and guided by the proposed analytical framework, this study offers insights into the intricate dynamics of the political elite-making process in Hong Kong. The findings reveal that political elites in Hong Kong are primarily drawn from the upper-middle class and typically graduating from the prestigious universities. Furthermore, in the professionalized society, full-time politics is viewed as a specialized career, highlighting the evolving interplay between politics and media resources. Rather than being consistently aligned, the relationship between political and media resources in the elite recruitment process has intertwined and transformed over the last two decades. Then, the elite maintenance and renewal pattern shows that, the adoption of new media technology gives younger generation more chances to get into the political arena. However, such changes just bring new people into political giving but not a new kind of people. Today’s political elites have merely transferred their previously accumulated academic achievements or business successes into the realm of politics. By adopting a participatory study, this research further explores how the political resources and media resources operate in the political elite-making process within a completely novel political structure. Through the integrated analysis of elite composition, elite recruitment, and elite maintenance and renewal, this study sheds light on the unique mechanisms at play in Hong Kong’s political landscape.

These findings not only contribute to our understanding of the political elite-making process within an authoritarian regime but also inspire a rethinking of elite theory in such contexts. Furthermore, the results provide an alternative structure for examining the political elite-making process through three interconnected stages that emerge from the integration of diverse theoretical perspectives. The overall findings furnish a robust and compelling evidence base for comprehending the persistent challenges that Hong Kong grapples with as an electoral authoritarian regime, as well as for appraising the importance of these struggles within the larger context of global politics. Moreover, the study’s investigation of the Hong Kong as a hybrid regime underscores the need for a nuanced approach to understanding political systems that exhibit elements of both democratic and authoritarian governance. By highlighting the ways in which the dynamics of the media and politics intersect in shaping the composition and recruitment of political elites, the study contributes to a richer and more sophisticated understanding of the interplay between media and politics in authoritarian context, and sheds light on a broader implications of these dynamics for the future of global democracy.

Date of Award	2 Nov 2023
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	City University of Hong Kong
Supervisor	Fen LIN (Supervisor)