Pragmatism, perceived reality, and Hong Kong people`s attitudes toward democratic reform

Abstract

This article examines the influence of pragmatism and perceived reality on public opinion. Pragmatism is conceptualized as a general attitudinal orientation and is defined as involving tendencies both to prioritize materialistic concerns over moral-political principles and to seriously consider issues of strategies and reality constraints. Mean while, depending on a person`s perceptions of reality, different lines of action or policy options are seen as more or less feasible and\\or more or less desirable. Following these arguments, it is hypothesized that pragmatism and perceived reality interact to shape public opinion. The empirical analysis focuses on Hong Kong people`s attitudes toward the decision of China`s National People`s Congress (NPC) to allow the direct election of the chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in 2017 but not earlier. Analysis of data from a representative survey (N = 632) largely supports the major hypotheses. On the whole, Hong Kong people are generally receptive to the NPC`s decision because of the combination of a high degree of pragmatism and apessimistic perception regarding the possibility of successfully persuading the Chinese government to allow Hong Kong.