Michael Mo
Michael's PhD project title is 'Affective polarisation of the pro-democracy movement in hybrid regime: The case of Hong Kong' Read more about Michael's research.
Project title
Affective polarisation of the pro-democracy movement in hybrid regime: The case of Hong KongSupervisors
About Michael
Born and raised in Hong Kong, I have become the Konishi Foundation Scholar in East Asian Studies since 2024.
Before joining Newcastle University, I was the Sanctuary Scholar at the University of Leeds. Besides, I have had two decades of involvement in politics, activism, civil society networks, and social movements in Hong Kong and across East and Southeast Asia.
Project description
The research will account for and evaluate the impact of the affective polarisation of the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong between the mid-2000s and 2021. By interviewing politicians and leading activists involved in the movement, the research will explore the cause of rising hostility between moderates and radical pro-democracy movement actors and how it impacted the direction of the movement, which had turned into a more radical response to regime repression, but still yield no concession by the regime.
The research also hypothesises affective polarisation reinforces other types of polarisation. The study will contribute to the knowledge of the decision-making of pro-democracy movements in hybrid regimes in East Asia and aims to open up the field to explore factors that may prevent pro-democracy movements from polarising around the world.
Research interests
- Deliberative practices and polarisations in protests, social movements and pro-democracy movements in East and Southeast Asia
- Politics and elections in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia
- Hong Kong diaspora community and migration of Hongkongers
- Civil society resilience in contentious politics in East and Southeast Asia
Personal interests
Before becoming a refugee in the UK, I was an elected local councillor in Hong Kong. After arriving in the UK, I, along with other former local councillors, initiated a project to assist Hongkongers who are newly residing in Scotland in better integrating into the nation.
Publications
Thesis
- Mo, M. 2024. Hong Kong pro-democracy 35 plus movement: How different types of polarisation shaped the deliberations.[Online] Thesis. Available from: https://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/35219/
Research involved
- Mo, M., Kwok, D. and Liu, C.H. 2024. BNO Hongkongers in Scotland are being denied to vote in the 2024 General Election - A Briefing [Online]. Glasgow: The Hong Kong Scots. Available from: https://thehongkong.scot/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240812-hkscots-briefing-bno-hongkongers-vote-ge2024-1.pdf
- Mo, M. (2024). Four years on: Hong Kong after the National Security Law. 2024th ed. [online] London: Council on Geostrategy. Available at: https://www.geostrategy.org.uk/app/uploads/2024/07/2024.21.Four-years-on_-Hong-Kong-after-the-National-Security-Law.pdf
- Community Development Initiative 2012. Hong Kong’s New Media and Social Movements (Chinese: 香港新媒體與社會運動研究)
- Community Development Initiative 2011. District Councillor Activeness Report 2011 [Online] (Chinese: 2011年區議會議員活躍度報告). Available from: https://www.cdiorg.hk/2011-10-27-cdi-dc2011/
- Community Development Initiative, The Business and Professionals Federation of Hong Kong and Hong Kong Foresight Centre 2010. The Unavoidable Social Change and the Avoidable Impact on the Elderly Our Ageing Society and the Deficiencies of the Systems.
Co-edited books
- Law, C., Mo, M., Tang, K., Leung, T., Cautherley, G. and Wong, O.Y. 2012. Implication and Policy Recommendations for the Competition Law in Hong Kong. (Chinese: 香港《競爭條例》解讀及政策建議 ). Hong Kong: iRead. ISBN:9881720141
- Think Tanks on Poverty Alleviation 2012. Poverty Alleviation: The Way Forward: Evaluating the Problems of Poverty and the Strategy of Alleviation. Hong Kong: Hong Kong Council of Social Services (Chinese: 扶貧政策何去何從 : 探討香港貧窮問題及扶貧策略). Hong Kong: iRead ISBN: 9881720133
UN NGO submissions contributed
- The Hong Kong Scots CIC 2023a. Submission of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights [Online]. Geneva: Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Economic and Social Council, United Nations. Available from: https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/layouts/15/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=INT%2FCESCR%2FICO%2FGBR%2F51096&Lang=en
- The Hong Kong Scots CIC 2023b. Submission of The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of People’s Republic of China on the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights [Online]. Geneva: Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Economic and Social Council, United Nations. Available from: https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/15/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=INT%2FCESCR%2FCSS%2FHKG%2F51291&Lang=en
- The Hong Kong Scots CIC 2022. Inputs for a report on cultural rights and migration to United Nations Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights [Online]. Geneva: Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights. Available from: https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/issues/culturalrights/cfi-cultural-rights-and-migration/2023-01-30/HongKongScots-cfi-cultural-rights.docx
Selected Op-eds
- Mo, M. 2024a. A tale of two movements – Polarised Hong Kong, depolarised Taiwan. Taiwan Insight. [Online]. Available from: https://taiwaninsight.org/2024/04/23/a-tale-of-two-movements-polarised-hong-kong-depolarised-taiwan/
- Mo, M. 2024b. How Should the World Perceive Today’s Hong Kong? The Diplomat. [Online]. Available from: https://thediplomat.com/2024/08/how-should-the-world-perceive-todays-hong-kong/
- Mo, M. 2023a. Hong Kong’s National Security Law 3 years on – Taiwan should build a defence. Taiwan Insight. [Online]. Available from: https://taiwaninsight.org/2023/10/11/hong-kongs-national-security-law-3-years-on-taiwan-should-build-a-defence/
- Mo, M. 2023b. How Hong Kong Authorities Are Using National Security Law to Target Dissidents. JURIST. [Online]. Available from: https://www.jurist.org/commentary/2023/09/how-hong-kong-authorities-are-using-national-security-law-to-target-dissidents/
- Mo, M. 2022. Hong Kong’s Dismantled Society. The Diplomat. [Online]. Available from: https://thediplomat.com/2022/06/hong-kongs-dismantled-society/
- Mo, M. 2021. Hong Kong’s Rigged Election. thediplomat.com. [Online]. Available from: https://thediplomat.com/2021/12/hong-kongs-rigged-election/
- Mo, M. 2020. Opinion: Joshua Wong’s imprisonment in Hong Kong is persecution by prosecution. dw.com. [Online]. Available from: https://www.dw.com/en/opinion-joshua-wongs-imprisonment-in-hong-kong-is-persecution-by-prosecution/a-55796285
Presentations
- Mo, M. 2024a. Collective action because of polarisation? The case of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy 35+ Movement In: British International Studies Association 2024 Conference.
- Mo, M. 2024b. Collective action because of polarisation? The case of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy 35+ Movement In: Political Studies Association 2024 Conference.
Academic Qualifications, Organisational Membership and Achievements
Qualifications
- MA by Research (MRes) in Politics. University of Leeds
- LLM in Human Rights. University of Hong Kong
- BSocSc (Hons) in Policy Studies and Administration. City University of Hong Kong
Contact and further information
E-mail: k.t.m.mo2@newcastle.ac.uk
Website: www.michaelmo.com