That people who desire self determination should be able to have it, that they should not be expected to be ruled by whomever is most powerful and happens to be ethnically similar. I think states should be based on a shared history and philosophy rather than ethnically segregating them to suit China.
That people who desire self determination should be able to have it, that they should not be expected to rule by whomever is most powerful and happens to be ethnically similar.
So you are proposing every city become a city state?
I think states should be based on a shared history and philosophy
Hong Kong does have a shared history and philosophy with China
rather than ethnically segregating them to suit China.
No, I am proposing that sufficiently large groups of people have some right to self determination, to only be part of nations which they choose to be part of. I’m saying Hong Kong is culturally, philosophically, and historically distinct from the People’s Republic of China at this point, and pretending they’re not is silly. You’re talking as if, like, Singapore doesn’t exist, that if any city state exists that’s somehow an absurdity.
Hong Kong has some shared history with China but not a shared philosophy. That’s why there’s the AND clause there. If you have shared history but not shared philosophy, it’s merely imperialism with a patina of historicity, i.e., “we should own this because we did at one point, regardless of the wishes of the people.” If you have shared philosophy but not shared history it may work out, but don’t be surprised when different cultures within your state react to issues in ways that are informed by their differing histories.
You are effectively saying that you don’t have an issue with colonialism, just that the wrong people were doing it before and now the right people can do it. I’m saying that the people of Hong Kong deserve self-determination if their political will is not represented in the state of the People’s Republic of China, which it will not be.
Sure. I am a communist, so I’m not a huge fan of a capitalist government ruling anywhere, but I certainly wouldn’t start arguing that China should be balkanized into city states just because a capitalist government was in charge.
Hong Kong is ethnically Chinese. And what exactly are you proposing, that every city should be an independent city state?
That people who desire self determination should be able to have it, that they should not be expected to be ruled by whomever is most powerful and happens to be ethnically similar. I think states should be based on a shared history and philosophy rather than ethnically segregating them to suit China.
So you are proposing every city become a city state?
Hong Kong does have a shared history and philosophy with China
What are you even talking about at this point.
No, I am proposing that sufficiently large groups of people have some right to self determination, to only be part of nations which they choose to be part of. I’m saying Hong Kong is culturally, philosophically, and historically distinct from the People’s Republic of China at this point, and pretending they’re not is silly. You’re talking as if, like, Singapore doesn’t exist, that if any city state exists that’s somehow an absurdity.
Hong Kong has some shared history with China but not a shared philosophy. That’s why there’s the AND clause there. If you have shared history but not shared philosophy, it’s merely imperialism with a patina of historicity, i.e., “we should own this because we did at one point, regardless of the wishes of the people.” If you have shared philosophy but not shared history it may work out, but don’t be surprised when different cultures within your state react to issues in ways that are informed by their differing histories.
You are effectively saying that you don’t have an issue with colonialism, just that the wrong people were doing it before and now the right people can do it. I’m saying that the people of Hong Kong deserve self-determination if their political will is not represented in the state of the People’s Republic of China, which it will not be.
So given a shared history, you’re good with Taiwan reunifying with the rest of China under the rule of the Taiwanese government?
Sure. I am a communist, so I’m not a huge fan of a capitalist government ruling anywhere, but I certainly wouldn’t start arguing that China should be balkanized into city states just because a capitalist government was in charge.