Value change in the 'Greater China' region: A longitudinal analysis

Theories of post-materialism and human development posit that intergenerational value change occurs when societies attain a certain level of sustained peace and economic development, and Welzel and Dalton (2014) have demonstrated a consequent transition from 'allegiant' to 'assertive' culture. Similar to other regions of the world, values in Asian societies have not remained static. A number of studies emphasize the persisting influence of so-called ‘Asian values,’ yet other scholars note an accelerated pace of attitudinal shifts in several Asian countries due to their rapid pace of economic growth. The Anti-Extradition Law protests in Hong Kong in 2019-20 attracted global attention, with many accounts highlighting different values in Hong Kong and mainland China. However, to what extent beliefs about authority and democracy have diverged between citizens in these two regions, and whether the gap has widened particularly among younger cohorts, remain unclear. The present study addresses these questions by analyzing longitudinal survey data to examine the pace of change in attitudes toward authority and participation in the so-called ‘Greater China’ region (mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan), and the relationship between such norms and support for democracy. Differences in regime type and timing of economic development among these cases can yield insights into both the causes and political ramifications of shifting social norms.