Hong Kong Protests and the Political Effects of an “Exit” Option

Alex NowrastehSparked by a Chinese extradition bill that would have made it possible for people in Hong Kong to be tried in the mainland ’s justice system, protesters in Hong Kong have demonstrated against Beijing for100 days as of this week. Since starting, the protests have grown to include a broader critique of the Chinese communist government ’s policies in Hong Kong. In anticipation of a potential government crackdown, no doubt influenced by fear of a repeat of themassacre at Tiananmen Square 30 years ago, the option for protesters and their families to leave seems increasingly important.One of the potential downsides of a universal “exit option” is that many Hongkongers would just leave the city permanently rather than trying to convince the government there to be more respectful of individual rights. My colleague Christopher Preble and I discussed this on a recentCato podcast. That is a small concern compared to the potential humanitarian downsides of a deadly crackdown in Hong Kong where people do not have the option to leave, but such a universal exit policy from authoritarian regimes could undermine protest movements around the world and slow the advancement of individual liberty.On the other hand, emigrants could help support pro-freedom protest movements in their home countries from relative safety in the United States or elsewhere. Protesters might also be more bold and people might be more likely to join the protest movement if they know that they can le...
Source: Cato-at-liberty - Category: American Health Authors: Source Type: blogs