Contesting Education and Identity in Hong Kong

"A powerful portrayal and thought-provoking assessment of the complex relations between education, identity formation, and civic engagement in Hong Kong. In this insightful book, Jackson critically analyzes the most important controversies since Hong Kong’s return from Britain to China in 1997, centering on Hongkongers’ longstanding struggles over local, national and global identities in a global age, and carefully evaluates student- and youth-led social movements for greater freedom and democracy in education and society. Jackson prudently scrutinizes why and how politically sensitive school subjects have become an ideological battlefield between Hong Kong and mainland China in general, and between localists and nationalists in Hong Kong in particular. She vividly demonstrates how the post-1997 school curriculum has been politicized to promote China’s positive image and foster nationalistic sentiments, rather than pro-Hong Kong feelings or multiculturalism. A must-read for researchers, scholars, students, and policymakers in Hong Kong studies and in the general field of politics, identity and education."

- Wing-Wah Law, Professor, Faculty of Education, University of Hong Kong

"At a time when the youth of Hong Kong are struggling to come to terms with how to sustain the only life they have ever known, this book brings a globally informed perspective to bear on the emerging challenges of identity and civic education. Jackson demonstrates how the problem of cultural diversity and national identity is played out in a more complex manner than elsewhere due to the challenge of integrating differences between two Chinese systems. The book adds to the study of civic education in a changing world."

- Gerard A. Postiglione,Chair Professor in Higher Education, University of Hong Kong

"As a scholar with philosophy background, Liz is particularly good at teasing out the paradoxes and conundrums related to the controversial school subjects such as history and liberal studies, recent student movements, the national education question, the local-national-global tensions, and the issue of multiculturalism... This is a must-read book if you wish to know how education and identity in Hong Kong is struggling for its directions at a crossroads."

-Wing On Lee, Executive Director, Institute of Adult Learning and Series Editor of Citizenship, Character and Values Education