‘Localism’ as a global alternative

The elections in Hong Kong have had a major international impact due to the emergence of ‘localism’. Six young deputies advocating self-determination were elected to the local parliament, and now, protected by the quasi-constitution in force as a result of the agreements between the United Kingdom and the People’s Republic of China, they will have access to the best platform possible for spreading the idea that it should be Hong Kong’s citizens who must have the last democratic word about what should happen to their city when the transitional period is concluded.

The ‘localist’ movement is new to Hong Kong, but is no surprise in global terms. This is because it has appeared at the same time as the emergence of similar demands in cities and countries that share some of their characteristics with the Asian city. These cities include Barcelona, with the demand for Catalonia’s independence, Edinburgh with Scotland and even London, following the Brexit vote. They are very open and cosmopolitan cities where the middle class, and especially the young, are demanding a democratic debate on the collective management of power in the era of globalisation. Old states are not functioning as they should so, and indeed, as in the case of Spain, they are a certifiable disaster. And the idea of living better, more efficiently and with more freedom in a new state that is smaller, more coherent and more socially stable is emerging as a natural alternative.

Seen in this light, ‘localism’ can be understood as a highly contemporary movement, which remedies the excesses of globalisation, but which is not antagonistic. It is a profoundly democratic new idea which very effectively challenges the last taboo of global democracy – the possibility of forming new states not only through wars and revolutions, but instead simply by using the ballot box and democracy.