The Making of "We" Through Movement Cultural Practices: The Identity Formation among Hong Kong Post-80s Anti-XRL Youth

In this paper, a case of the Hong Kong 2010 anti-express rail link movement will be examined. The focus of this study is “how do the post-80s young activists utilize the cultural practices to build up their collective identity”. In-depth interview and participant observation are the major methods to investigate the young activists’ political engagement through different forms of movement strategic plans. The constructed spatial meaning, the cultural narratives, and the empathy are the major analytical aspects. Results show that, with the intentional or spontaneous spatial plans, action designing, universal or localized narratives from the cultural toolbox, and movement artifacts, the Hong Kong young generation of activists form the sense of “togetherness”, embracing the common goal of opposing the injustice legislative body and the authoritarian decision on the railway project. A demarcation between the “we” (as the oppositional force) and the “they” (the authorities) is demonstrated. By emphasizing the civic empowerment and direct action, the post-80s bring forth a new force to Hong Kong’s conventional movement arena and broaden the horizon of Hong Kong people who get used to the “rule and order” movement discourse.