Rethinking hegemony and resistance to political education in Mainland China and Hong Kong

Fairbrother presents an analysis that brings the concept of hegemony into the discussion of state claims to legitimacy in order to emphasize that numerous such claims form a constantly shifting complex in the state's attempt to maintain popular consent in a society in which oppositional politics are always present. In turn, the concept of hegemony and its need for continuous adaptation in the face of opposition brings the analysis to its focus on resistance, entailing perceptions of hegemony, reactions of critique, and potential effects on citizens' attitudes and behaviors that are contrary to the state's intentions. Here, he also focuses on Hong Kong and mainland Chinese university students as the targets of state hegemony and on the interrelationships among their attitudes toward the nation, perceptions of political socialization, and critical thinking. Copyright © 2008 The Comparative and International Education Society.