Political Culture, Participation and Communication: The Collapse of Consensus Politics and the Local Social Group System

Abstract

In general, the people of Macao have taken a passive approach to political issues, and the government has shown that it is uneasy about the politicization of society. However, along with the arrival of foreign casino investors and the changing socio-economic environment, the merits and shortcomings of the governance model inherited from the Portuguese breakout have been reflected in the new forms of governance that have emerged in Macao since the handover. Despite the separation of powers in the MSAR, and the apparent democratic structure of governance, the government is strongly executive led and power is concentrated in the hands of the core beneficiary groups and their allies, who occupy most of the principal official positions.