Democratic fundamentalism in Hong Kong

In this sense, the sacredness of democracy as a value lies in the fact that it denies the sacredness of any one concept at the expense of another and the attempt to consecrate any appeal. There is no such thing as the "most important" or the "only" correct position or appeal, nor is there an absolute and boundless right. There is no predestined or prescribed form of the realization of rights or appeals, other than that they should be realized through negotiations among the appealing party and other stakeholders.

Democracy is supreme as a value, but the political practice of democracy will always be a work in progress. The realization of democracy should be flexible and should take place within the context of each unique place and/or situation. The process of developing and striving for democracy should therefore take the appeals of each and every group with a stake in the situation into consideration.

A multidimensional political value

No matter how sacred democracy may be, it is only one of many political values or one dimension of political values as a whole. The reason why human society can exist, develop and protect the interests of various parties is that it has a multidimensional shared political value. For instance, human society respects and protects the autonomy and sovereignty of a single group, but it also respects and protects the sovereignty and regional integrity of a multiethnic community. It respects the right of some to pursue reform and change, but also respects others' need for stability and security.

The recently concluded Scotland independence referendum showcased the tensions between the two different dimensions of a shared political value. On the one hand, principles of national independence and popular sovereignty mean that every ethnic group or community has the right to pursue independence and autonomy; on the other hand, as residents of a sovereign state, the people of the U.K. enjoy the right to protect their sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Against the backdrop of expanding coexistence and mobility among various peoples and races in today's world, we need to find a balance among different political values when addressing the relationship between different communities.

Hong Kong citizens' appeal for universal suffrage is reasonable, as it represents the democratic political value. But other equally important political values should also be recognized and respected. For example, sanctifying one form of election plan despite the turmoil and segregation that it may bring to society indeed violates the values of harmony and stability.

Likewise, students and citizens taking to the streets represent the political values of expression and participation, but their radical demands violate another value. Idealism is one form of political value, while pragmatism is also another form of political value. Such is also the case with radicalism and conservatism, reform and stability, and revolution and order. Every political practice and movement should strike a balance among all these different values.