Securitization of Covid-19 in Hong Kong: Trust and Success
Analyzing the successful securitization of Covid-19 in Hong Kong amidst low political trust, this study explores the role of trust, smart technologies, and governmental factors in managing the pandemic. Key elements include political trust, audience acceptance, smart technology trust, and effectiveness of Covid-19 management.
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Countering the Covid Countering the Covid- - 19 pandemic in Hong 19 pandemic in Hong Kong. A Successful Kong. A Successful Securitization in an Securitization in an Environment of Low Environment of Low Political Trust Political Trust Dionysios Stivas and Alistair Cole Prepared for the International Jean Monnet Workshop Trust- Transparency and the Transnational management of Covid-19 19 May 2023 Hong Kong Baptist University
Background Information Research Question Relevant Literature Methodological Framework Findings Conclusions Outline
Background information Covid-19
Background information Securitization of Covid-19
Background information Determinants of Successful Management/Securitization of COVID-19
Background information The Hong Kong Paradox
Research Question(s) and Hypotheses Is political trust a determinant of the securitization s audience acceptance element, and by extension, of the securitization s success? Did the high levels of Hong Kong citizens trust in smart technologies compensate for the low trust in the government and accounted for the successful securitization of the pandemic despite the low levels of institutional trust? H1: political trust influences the success of a securitization H2: where political trust is limited, trust in smart technologies may contribute to the efforts of securitizing actors to effectively securitize an issue
What is it? Main elements of a successful securitization Security Speech Act Securitizing Measures/Emergency Action Audience Acceptance Trust and Securitization Trust and Audience Acceptance Trust and Persuasion Capability Trust and Effectiveness of COVID-19 Management Trust and Compliance Trust in Technology vs Trust in Government Relevant Literature Securitization
Methodological Framework
Table 1 Securitization-Trust Configurations Configuration Trust Relations A Audience Response Audience Acceptance Form of Securitization Successful Securitization Political Trust + Trust in Smart City Distrust in Government + Distrust in Smart City Distrust in Government + Trust in Smart City Political Trust + Distrust in Smart City Distrust in Government + Trust in Smart City Political Trust + Distrust in Smart City B Audience Disapproval Failed Securitization Methodological Approach C Audience Acceptance Successful Securitization D Audience Acceptance Successful Securitization E Audience Disapproval Failed Securitization F Audience Disapproval Failed Securitization
Timeframe: January 2020-October 2021 Data: Communications/Statements/Reports of the Chief Executive Publicly available PORI Trust Surveys Tailormade PORI Survey (N=808) Focus Groups x 4 Chinese Students Civil Servants Private Companies employees Mixed Group Methodological Framework
Graph 2: Securitization Gap in Hong Kong Findings 0=A-securitization; 1=Desecuritization; 2= Mild Securitization; 3= Securitization; 4= Preemptive Securitization; 5= Hyper Securitization
Findings Speech Acts tremendous public health concern and anxiety to people fight the epidemic together draconian measures [sailing] through a wave which necessitated suppression measures, otherwise, we ll not be able to sustain very major public health crisis collapse of [Hong Kong s] hospital system and cost lives
Findings Emergency Action Social Distance Enforceable Measures Strict Quarantines- no Lockdowns Smart City Tools LeaveHomeSafe StayHomeSafe
Figure 2Trust in and Satisfaction with the Hong Kong Government. Audience Acceptance/Public Trust Findings
Figure 3 Distrust in and Dissatisfaction with the Hong Kong Government. Audience Acceptance/Public Trust Findings
LeavehomeSafe App Important tool: 52% Trusting it because of domestic legislation privacy guarantees Bad timing for introducing the LHS app = post anti-ELAB protests Circumventing the proper installation of LHS app Different perspectives about trust in smart city tech providers between mainland Chinese and local Hong Kong interlocutors Mainland Chinese trust government providers of smart apps Locals trust international and private industry providers of smart apps Discussion/Conclusions
Discussion/Conclusions Trust in government = irrelevant variable in the Hong Kong context Successful Securitization Distrust no because of inefficient COVID-19 management Distrust because of the government s response to the 2019 s protests Distrust of citizens to HK government and smart tech provided by the HK government Strict quarantines Elements of Success Public Preparedness (SARS-2003) Confucian Values Community Capacity and Social Mobilization
