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 Colonization is defined as the action or process of settling among and establishing control over the indigenous people of an area (Dictionary.app, 2018). It is a process that has occurred for centuries among nation-states. However, in modern-day history, it is happening less and less frequently and manypowerhouse countries such as Britain, Spain, and France have relinquished their former colonies. Colonization has been associated with limitation, oppression, and genocide. Many influential people of the past, however, believed it was an advantageous method. One supporter of colonization was the political theorist and French nationalist, Alexis de Tocqueville. Born into a family of wealth in 1805, he saw an opportunity in colonizing the North African country of Algeria in 1830 due to the benefits it would bring France. Despite 19 years of Algerian resistance to the French occupancy that resulted in 1 million Algerian deaths, Tocqueville was in favor of France’s decision because he believed some violence must occur to overtake Algeria. He justifies the seizing of “unarmed men, women, and children” as “unfortunate necessities” (Tocqueville, 1841, 70). First, Tocqueville argues that colonization increases national pride, global influence, and power of the country that colonizes. Second, he believes that the natives also benefit from colonization because they are uncivilized and in need of western ideals. Lastly, he believes resistance is inevitable, however, fear can be instilled in the protestors, and thus control over them can be gained. 

Although fewer instances of colonization occur today, the process is still happening, but at a slower pace and with a narrative that is less direct than in the past. The Chinese Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong is a small area home to 7,249,907 people and has a thriving economy (CIA, 2020). However, the nation signed a contract that committed it would become part of the People’s Republic of China in the year 2047. This pact threatens Hong Kong’s economy, distinct culture, and rights. An estimated 1 million people attend the ongoing protests in Hong Kong, but China remains on target to assimilate Hong Kong into a Mainland Chinese region in a few short decades. Through the views of Alexis de Tocqueville, the China—Hong Kong conflict is a modern-day example of colonization. He would believe China must stop Hong Kong’s resistance and colonize Hong Kong for the sake of national pride and enhanced global influence.

Tocqueville makes the argument that Arabs have the cultural habit of starting war. He explains, “…for above all what makes the Arabs take up arms is the idea that we want to dispossess them and sooner or later settle on the land they have inherited from their ancestors” (Tocqueville, 1841, 62). He describes that unity is created among the colonized through a shared “hatred of the stranger and infidel who has come to invade their country” (Tocqueville, 1841, 64). While the conflict between China and Hong Kong is not a matter of religion, the anti-Mainland China protests have been massive and frequent in Hong Kong. According to a CNN report, “protesters shut down major roads and disrupted public transport. Some protesters also firebombed Xinhua's Hong Kong headquarters – an act condemned as ‘barbaric’ in a statement by the state-run news agency” (Westcott, 2019). The idea of an uprising as a barbaric act is in line with Tocqueville’s views of the Arabs. While he thought of the Algerians as ‘semi-colonized’ due to trade relations with Europe, he believed the people of Africa were uncivilized. Just as we saw with the Arab resistance to French colonization, we now see in Hong Kong as a result of opposition to a future under the Chinese rule.  

In response to the continued protesting, China’s president Xi Jinping is working hard to instill fear in the people of Hong Kong.According to Tocqueville, a key aspect of colonization and control is “…[ruling] the majority through enthusiasm and the minority through fear.” (Tocqueville, 1841, 67).  In a CNN article titled Xi Jinping demands end to violent protests in surprise meeting with Hong Kong leader, the president “warned against separatism, saying any attempt to divide China would end in ‘bodies smashed and bones ground to powder’” (Westcott, 2019). Despite his threatening tone, Xi Jinping says his restrictions on resistance are an attempt to punish those responsible for violence,“improve people’s livelihood”, and “safeguard the well-being of the general public in Hong Kong”(Westcott, 2019).

Similarly, Tocqueville described colonization as an ultimate aid to the Algerian quality of life. Appearing to work for the sake of the well-being of the people allows for a justification of the containment of the colonized people’s freedom of speech. Tocqueville explains:

“The great things we have already done in Algeria, the examples set by our arts, our ideas, our power, have had a powerful effect on the spirit of the very populations that fight us with the greatest ardor and reject our yoke with the greatest energy” (Tocqueville, 1841, 60). 

Comparably, the spread of Mainland China’s cultural norms, beliefs, and governance is being forced upon Hong Kong. The term “mainlandization”in Hong Kong today is the process in which attempts are made “by the Communist Party and its allies to exert greater control over Hong Kong politically, economically, socially, and culturally, to integrate it into the mainland before the end of the 50-year ‘one country, two systems’ period in 2047” (Tsung-Gan, 2017). Mainlandization is considered by many to be Hong Kong’s biggest threat. The plan is “to transform every aspect of governance and society while preserving the pretense that Hong Kong institutions continue as before” (Tsung-Gan, 2017). One example of mainlandization is the promotion of Mandarin in Hong Kong (Hong Kong—Mainland China conflict, 2020). Cantonese is Hong Kong’s regional language; however, China has been heavily promoting the spread of Mandarin. In 2018, The Education Bureau of Hong Kong stated that Cantonese is only a dialect of Chinese, and therefore cannot be deemed a mother tongue language (Cheng, 2018). As a result, fear grew throughout Hong Kong that Mandarin would become the new official language as an outcome of mainlandization. 

Another sign of mainlandization in Hong Kong is an increase in self-censorship of journalists in the media industry. An article in the South China Morning Post reported “both journalists and members of the public saying self-censorship had become more common” (Fung, 2016). Chairwoman Sham Yee-lan of the Hong Kong Journalist Association quoted, “This shows that the deterioration in press freedom in Hong Kong is very severe” (Fung, 2016). Lastly, Vice-chairwoman Shirley Yam of HKJA says, “This fear will certainly affect our day-to-day work, in terms of how vocal we should be in writing our commentaries as well as reporting on mainland-related stories” (Fung, 2016). Fear is present in the media industry and in Hong Kong society at large, primarily due to the Communist limitations of Mainland China. Freedom of speech is most definitely at risk because censorship tends to restrict words spoken, written, and symbolized.

The final example, although there are many more, of mainlandization is the newly enacted National Anthem Ordinance. In June of 2020, a law was passed that considers insulting or mocking Mainland China’s national anthem to be an offense punishable by law (National Anthem Ordinance, 2020). Additionally, it requires that the Chinese national anthem be included in the curriculum of Hong Kong’s primary and secondary education systems. Schools must adhere to this law by incorporating history lessons on Mainland China, Chinese etiquette courses, or singing the anthem during class. China is now building legalities towards colonizing Hong Kong and transitioning the island into a Mainland Chinese nation. This new requirement has allowed China to take a level of control over Hong Kong’s education system, which results in a limitation of freedom in Hong Kong. 

So, why does China still want control over Hong Kong despite obvious resistance by its people? There are two main reasons, and both are in line with the ideas of Alexis de Tocqueville. First, what Tocqueville believes to be a key reason for colonizing other countries, is the motive of national pride. In the eyes of other powerful countries, France’s reputation was improved by the decision to colonize Algeria. The more land that belongs to a country, the more opportunity for national pride there is. Tocqueville explains, “In the eyes of the world, such an abandonment would be a clear indication of our decline [décadence]” (Tocqueville, 1841, 59). He further writes, “Any people that easily gives up what is taken and chooses to retire peacefully to its original borders proclaims that its age of greatness is over. It visibly enters period of its decline [déclin]” (Tocqueville, 1841, 59).China, as a major world power today and home to ~1.5 billion people, cares deeply about its reputation. China does not want to sacrifice its dignity and perception in the world due to its major role in the global economy. It must fight to keep Hong Kong under the Chinese reign to succeed as a nation of status and strength. Giving up Hong Kong would result in a loss of national pride. The second reason to colonize, according to Tocqueville’s strategic point of view, is for the sake of global power. He believes that a country’s international influence is enhanced with the more foreign land it acquires. Within the circle of powerhouse nations, a country can climb the ladder of impact and authority in the world. China’s economy is on the way to surpassing the United States. According to the article The World’s Top Economies in 2020, China’s economy “is estimated to have grown at a rate of 6.3% in 2019, and it is expected to add another 6.1% in 2020. The U.S. rate was 2.5% in 2019, with a projected increase of 1.7% in 2020” (Hawley, 2020). Clearly, China is an emerging power of the world today and is expected to become even more dominant in the coming years. 

Alexis de Tocqueville believed colonization had great benefits to both the settlers and the natives of the colonized country. He had confidence that the spread of western culture and politics increased the quality of life of those in Algeria through advancements in technology, military, and infrastructure. The irony when examining the China—Hong Kong conflict is that Hong Kong is considered highly developed, and China is not. Hong Kong is a strong, free-market economy, and an extremely influential international financial hub. According to the United Nations Development Report 2019 Statistical Update, Hong Kong ranks number five behind Norway, Switzerland, Ireland, and Germany (Human Development Report, 2019). China on the other hand comes in 86thon the Human Development Index. Undoubtedly, the Communist regime of China will revoke many freedoms of Hong Kong if and when Hong Kong is taken over by Mainland China in 2047. What will happen to Hong Kong’s economy? Its unique culture? Its free-thinking, independent people? Hong Kong faces a threat to its entire existence. The people must think of a way to dissuade president Xi Jinping and the government of China to refrain from becoming colonized by the People’s Republic of China, and ultimately going back in time to a restricted and limited way of life. 

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