Tillbakablickande nationalism ett minne blott? En teorikritisk fallstudie om nationalism och identitet i Hong Kong

Sammanfattning: In this thesis I have criticized traditional nationalism theories formulated by Eric Hobsbawm, Ernest Gellner, Benedict Anderson and Anthony D. Smith. The critique has been based on my belief that nationalism theories do not explain nations whose foundation is built on forward-looking, dynamic aspects such as economy, human and civil rights, and democracy. Traditional nationalism theories have been focused on historicizing perspectives whereas I want to draw attention to non-historicizing perspectives within the field of research. So far nationalism theories has had a shared past or a shared ethnicity as its focal point. I have chosen to conduct this thesis as a case study with Hong Kong as the case. I found that Hong Kong has built its nation and national identity on capitalism, human and civil rights and democratic principles, aspects they have wanted to preserve after the reunification with China. The Hongkongers are aware of their similar and shared history and ethnicity with China but this has not been decisive for them and how they look upon their national identity. Hong Kong has, after the reunification, focused on non-historicizing factors in order to secure their ideals for the future.