National Identity and Democratic Consolidation in Taiwan: A Study of the Problem of Democratization in a Divided Country

Issues and Studies

Volumn 33, Issue 4, 1997, Pages 1-44

  Chen, Wen Chun ^a  

^a NATIONAL SUN YAT SEN UNIVERSITY   (Taiwan)

Author keywords

Democratic consolidation; Democratic transition; Democratization; Issue position; Lee Teng hui complex; National identity; Partisan preference; Unification independence issue

Indexed keywords

EID: 0242287771     PISSN: 10132511     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: None     Document Type: Article

References (90)

1. See Robert A. Dahl, Polyarchy: Participation and Opposition (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1971).
2. See Guillermo O'Donnell, Philippe C. Schmitter, and Laurence Whitehead, eds., Transitions from Authoritarian Rule: Tentative Conclusions About Uncertain Democracies (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1986).
3. Adam Przeworski, Democracy and the Market: Political and Economic Reforms in Eastern Europe and Latin America (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1991).
4. Dankward A. Rustow, "Transitions to Democracy: Toward a Dynamic Model," Comparative Politics 2, no. 3 (April 1970): 358-61.
5. Doh Chull Shin "On the Third Wave of Democratization: A Synthesis and Evaluations of Recent Theory and Research," World Politics 47, no. 1 (October 1994): 135-70.
6. Please see the Chinese version of Samuel P. Huntington's article translated by Ting Lien-tsai, Zhongguo shibao (China Times) (Taipei), August 27, 1995, 9.
7. Chen Wen-chun, "Political Socialization and Political Democratization of Taiwan College Students: An Exploration into the Fostering of Democratic Citizens," in Taiwan de minzhuhua: Huigu, jiantao ji zhanwang (Taiwan's democratization: Retrospect, review, and prospects), ed. Chen Wen-chun (Kaohsiung: Graduate Institute of Political Science, National Sun Yat-sen University, June 1996), 143-73.
8. Wu Nai-te, "Ethnic Awareness, Political Support, and National Identity - A Preliminary Theoretical Probe into Taiwan's Ethnic Politics," in Zuqun guanxi yu guojia rentong (Ethnic relationship and national identity), Chang Mao-kuei et al. (Taipei: Yeqiang chubanshe), 1993, 27-51; Wu Nai-te, "National Identity and Partisan Support: The Social Basis of Taiwan's Partisan Competition," Zhongyanyuan minzuxue yanjiusuo jikan (Collected Papers of the Institute of Ethnology of Academia Sinica) (Taipei), no. 74 (1993): 33-61.
9. Wu Nai-te, "Ethnic Awareness, Political Support, and National Identity - A Preliminary Theoretical Probe into Taiwan's Ethnic Politics," in Zuqun guanxi yu guojia rentong (Ethnic relationship and national identity), Chang Mao-kuei et al. (Taipei: Yeqiang chubanshe), 1993, 27-51; Wu Nai-te, "National Identity and Partisan Support: The Social Basis of Taiwan's Partisan Competition," Zhongyanyuan minzuxue yanjiusuo jikan (Collected Papers of the Institute of Ethnology of Academia Sinica) (Taipei), no. 74 (1993): 33-61.
10. Chu Yun-han, "We Cannot Be Too Optimistic About the Future of Taiwan's Democratic Consolidation," Lianhe bao (United Daily News) (Taipei), August 27, 1995.
11. In June 1995, the Graduate Institute of Political Science of National Sun Yat-sen University sponsored a symposium on Taiwan's democratization to extensively explore the meaning of the "Taiwan experience" from political, economic, social, administrative, cultural, and educational aspects. For details, see Chen, Taiwan de minzhuhua.
12. John A Hall, "Consolidation of Democracy," in Prospects for Democracy: North, South East, and West, ed. David Held (Stanford, Calif.: Stanford University Press, 1992), 285; Georg Sørensen, Democracy and Democratization (Boulder, Colo.: Westview Press, 1993), 41; Robert A. Scalapino, "Democratizing Dragons: South Korea and Taiwan," Journal of Democracy 4, no. 3 (July 1993): 82; Shao-chuan Leng and Cheng-yi Lin, "Political Change on Taiwan: Transition to Democracy?" The China Quarterly, no. 136 (December 1993): 838.
13. John A Hall, "Consolidation of Democracy," in Prospects for Democracy: North, South East, and West, ed. David Held (Stanford, Calif.: Stanford University Press, 1992), 285; Georg Sørensen, Democracy and Democratization (Boulder, Colo.: Westview Press, 1993), 41; Robert A. Scalapino, "Democratizing Dragons: South Korea and Taiwan," Journal of Democracy 4, no. 3 (July 1993): 82; Shao-chuan Leng and Cheng-yi Lin, "Political Change on Taiwan: Transition to Democracy?" The China Quarterly, no. 136 (December 1993): 838.
14. John A Hall, "Consolidation of Democracy," in Prospects for Democracy: North, South East, and West, ed. David Held (Stanford, Calif.: Stanford University Press, 1992), 285; Georg Sørensen, Democracy and Democratization (Boulder, Colo.: Westview Press, 1993), 41; Robert A. Scalapino, "Democratizing Dragons: South Korea and Taiwan," Journal of Democracy 4, no. 3 (July 1993): 82; Shao-chuan Leng and Cheng-yi Lin, "Political Change on Taiwan: Transition to Democracy?" The China Quarterly, no. 136 (December 1993): 838.
15. John A Hall, "Consolidation of Democracy," in Prospects for Democracy: North, South East, and West, ed. David Held (Stanford, Calif.: Stanford University Press, 1992), 285; Georg Sørensen, Democracy and Democratization (Boulder, Colo.: Westview Press, 1993), 41; Robert A. Scalapino, "Democratizing Dragons: South Korea and Taiwan," Journal of Democracy 4, no. 3 (July 1993): 82; Shao-chuan Leng and Cheng-yi Lin, "Political Change on Taiwan: Transition to Democracy?" The China Quarterly, no. 136 (December 1993): 838.
16. The transition to democracy begins with the decline or disintegration of an authoritarian government and ends with the institution of a certain form of democracy, or a new or even more rigorous authoritarian rule, or a violent revolutionary government Therefore whether the transition constitutes a democratization process is to be decided by the result. See also O'Donnell, Schmitter, and Whitehead, Transitions from Authoritarian Rule, 3.
17. Samuel P. Huntington, The Third Wave: Democratization in the Late Twentieth Century (Norman and London: University of Oklahoma Press, 1991), 15.
18. Samuel P Huntington, "Democracy's Third Wave," in The Global Resurgence of Democracy, ed. Larry Diamond and Marc F. Plattner (Baltimore and London: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1993), 3-25.
19. See Diamond and Plattner, The Global Resurgence of Democracy.
20. Edwin A. Winckler, "Institutionalization and Participation on Taiwan: From Hard to Soft Authoritarianism?" The China Quarterly, no. 99 (September 1984): 481-99; Edwin A. Winckler, "Taiwan's Transition?" in Political Change in Taiwan, ed. Tun-jen Cheng and Stephan Haggard (Boulder and London: Lynne Rienner, 1992), 221-59; Alan M. Wachman, Taiwan: National Identity and Democratization (Armonk, N.Y.: M. E. Sharpe, 1994), 30, 35.
21. Edwin A. Winckler, "Institutionalization and Participation on Taiwan: From Hard to Soft Authoritarianism?" The China Quarterly, no. 99 (September 1984): 481-99; Edwin A. Winckler, "Taiwan's Transition?" in Political Change in Taiwan, ed. Tun-jen Cheng and Stephan Haggard (Boulder and London: Lynne Rienner, 1992), 221-59; Alan M. Wachman, Taiwan: National Identity and Democratization (Armonk, N.Y.: M. E. Sharpe, 1994), 30, 35.
22. Edwin A. Winckler, "Institutionalization and Participation on Taiwan: From Hard to Soft Authoritarianism?" The China Quarterly, no. 99 (September 1984): 481-99; Edwin A. Winckler, "Taiwan's Transition?" in Political Change in Taiwan, ed. Tun-jen Cheng and Stephan Haggard (Boulder and London: Lynne Rienner, 1992), 221-59; Alan M. Wachman, Taiwan: National Identity and Democratization (Armonk, N.Y.: M. E. Sharpe, 1994), 30, 35.
23. Qingshan Tan, Peter Kien-hong Yu, and Wen-chun Chen, "Local Politics in Taiwan: Democratic Consolidation," Asian Survey 36, no. 5 (May 1996): 483-94.
24. Huang Teh-fu and Chang Yu-tzung, "Marching Toward a System of Tripartite Competition? - Democratic Consolidation and the Changes in Taiwan's Partisan Politics," in Chen, Taiwan de minzhuhua, 251-73.
25. Donald L. Horowitz, "Democracy in Divided Societies," in Nationalism, Ethnic Conflict, and Democracy, ed. Larry Diamond and Marc F. Plattner (Baltimore and London: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1994), 35-55.
26. David Easton, A Systems Analysis of Political Life (New York: Wiley & Sons, 1967), chaps. 11, 12, and 13.
27. Masahiroo Wakabayashi, Taiwan: Fenlieh guojia yu minzhuhua (Taiwan: Divided countries and democratization), trans. Hung Chin-chu and Hsu Pei-hsien (Taipei: Yuedan chuban gufen youxian gongsi, 1994).
28. Bhikhu Parekh, "Discourses on National Identity," Political Studies 42, no. 3 (September 1994): 492-504.
29. See note 4 above.
30. Ibid., 350.
31. Ibid., 361.
32. Ambrose Y.C. King, "A Nonparadigmatic Search for Democracy in a Post-Confucian Culture: The Case of Taiwan, R.O.C.," in Political Culture and Democracy in Developing Countries, ed. Larry Diamond (Boulder and London: Lynne Rienner, 1993), 139-61.
33. Huntington, The Third Wave, 124-42.
34. Eric A. Nordlinger, "Political Development: Time Sequences and Rates of Change," in Political Development and Social Change, ed. Jason L. Finkle and Richard W. Gable, 2nd edition (New York: Wiley & Sons, 1971), 459.
35. Wachman, Taiwan, 52.
36. Parekh, "Discourses on National Identity," 501 n. 14.
37. For more discussion of national identity as a cultural community and a specific political community, see Hsiao Kao-yen, "National Identity, Nationalism, and Constitutional Democracy: The Development and Reflections of Contemporary Political Philosophy" (Paper presented at the Symposium on Taiwan's Democratization Beyond the Twentieth Century, sponsored by the Yin Hai-kuang Academic Fund, Taipei, July 7-8, 1996); Hsiao Kao-yen, "Cultural Pluralism and Political Recognition Theory: A Politico-Philosophical Analysis" (Paper presented at the Symposium on Pluralized Political Ideas, sponsored by the Sun Yat-Sen Institute for Social Sciences and Philosophy, Academia Sinica, Taipei, May 30-31, 1996).
38. For more discussion of national identity as a cultural community and a specific political community, see Hsiao Kao-yen, "National Identity, Nationalism, and Constitutional Democracy: The Development and Reflections of Contemporary Political Philosophy" (Paper presented at the Symposium on Taiwan's Democratization Beyond the Twentieth Century, sponsored by the Yin Hai-kuang Academic Fund, Taipei, July 7-8, 1996); Hsiao Kao-yen, "Cultural Pluralism and Political Recognition Theory: A Politico-Philosophical Analysis" (Paper presented at the Symposium on Pluralized Political Ideas, sponsored by the Sun Yat-Sen Institute for Social Sciences and Philosophy, Academia Sinica, Taipei, May 30-31, 1996).
39. Milton J. Esman, Ethnic Politics (Ithaca and London: Cornell University Press, 1994), 27.
40. Nathan Glazer and Daniel P. Moynihan, "Introduction," in Ethnicity: Theory and Experience, ed. Nathan Glazer and Daniel P. Moynihan (Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1975), 19-20; John Rex, Race and Ethnicity (Milton Keynes, England: Open University Press, 1986), 26-28.
41. Nathan Glazer and Daniel P. Moynihan, "Introduction," in Ethnicity: Theory and Experience, ed. Nathan Glazer and Daniel P. Moynihan (Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1975), 19-20; John Rex, Race and Ethnicity (Milton Keynes, England: Open University Press, 1986), 26-28.
42. Clifford Geertz, "The Integrative Revolution: Primordial Sentiments and Civic Politics in the New States," in Old Societies and New States, ed. Clifford Geertz (New York: Free Press, 1963), 109.
43. Donald L. Horowitz, "Ethnic Identity," in Glazer and Moynihan, Ethnicity: Theory and Experience, 111-40.
44. Tom W. Smith, "Ethnic Measurement and Identification," Ethnicity 7 (1980): 78-95.
45. According to the 1990 census held in Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu, 86.7 percent of the 20,254,414 Taiwan residents were Taiwanese and 11.3 percent of them were mainlanders. See Chen Wen-chun, "Ethnic Groups, Ethnic Awareness, and Political Support: An Analysis of the 1992 Legislative Election," in Xuanju xingwei yu Taiwan diqu de zhengzhi minzhuhua: Cong dierjie lifaweiyuan xuanju tantao (Electoral behavior and Taiwan's political democratization: A discussion based on the second legislative election), A theme study report to the Executive Yuan's National Science Council, ed. Chen Yi-yen et al. (Taipei: Election Study Center, National Chengchi University, 1993), 87.
46. Chen Wen-chun, "Ethnic Awareness and National Identity Among Taiwan's College Students," Zhongshan shehui kexue xuebao (Zhongshan Social Sciences Journal) 8, no. 2 (Summer 1994): 41-91. This is a paper presented at the Symposium on Cross- Strait Social Development Theories, sponsored by Jilin University's Social Development Institute, Changchun, July 8-14, 1993.
47. Chen Wen-chun, "Ethnic Awareness and National Identity Among Taiwan's College Students," Zhongshan shehui kexue xuebao (Zhongshan Social Sciences Journal) 8, no. 2 (Summer 1994): 41-91. This is a paper presented at the Symposium on Cross-Strait Social Development Theories, sponsored by Jilin University's Social Development Institute, Changchun, July 8-14, 1993.
48. Wang Pu-chang, "The Essence of the Fusion of People from Different Provinces - A Theoretical and Empirical Study," in Chang, Zuqun guanxi yu guojia rentong, 53-100.
49. Chen, "Ethnic Groups," 88.
50. See Paul R. Brass, "Ethnicity and Nationality Formation," Ethnicity 3 (1976): 225-41; Paul R. Brass, Ethnicity and Nationalism (New Delhi: Sage Publications, 1991), 18-68.
51. See Paul R. Brass, "Ethnicity and Nationality Formation," Ethnicity 3 (1976): 225-41; Paul R. Brass, Ethnicity and Nationalism (New Delhi: Sage Publications, 1991), 18-68.
52. Wang Pu-chang, "Place of Origin and Politics" (Paper presented at the Forum on Current Political Problems sponsored by the Chinese Association of Political Science, Taipei, June 20, 1994), 6.
53. Wu, "National Identity and Partisan Support," 37.
54. Chang Mao-kuei, "Place of Origin and Nationalism," in Chang, Zuqun guanxi yu guojia rentong, 242-48.
55. Ernest Gellner, Nations and Nationalism (Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell University Press, 1983), 1.
56. Wachman, Taiwan, 26.
57. Wu, "National Identity and Partisan Support," 40-44; Leng and Lin, "Political Change on Taiwan," 828-30.
58. Wu, "National Identity and Partisan Support," 40-44; Leng and Lin, "Political Change on Taiwan," 828-30.
59. The four conditional questions were as follows: (1) Posed to respondents who said that they leaned toward unification: If Taiwan and mainland China's economic, social, and political conditions were considerably different, would you support Taiwan's reunification with mainland China? (2) Posed to respondents who said that they leaned toward Taiwan independence: If mainland China were to attack Taiwan after the latter has declared its independence, would you support Taiwan independence? (3) and (4): Posed to respondents who said that they wanted to maintain the status quo: If mainland China and Taiwan's economic, social, and political conditions were rather similar would you support Taiwan's reunification with mainland China? And if mainland China did not attack Taiwan after the latter has declared its independence, would you support Taiwan independence?
60. Yu Ying-shih, "Communist China is the Biggest Loser," Lianhe bao, March 24, 1996, 6.
61. See the translation of A. M. Rosenthal's article in Zhongguo shibao, December 3, 1995, 11.
62. Bau Tzong-ho, "The Kuomintang Should Win over the Metropolis and the Bourgeoisie," ibid.
63. Chen Fang-ming, "The Democratic Progressive Party Faces a Growth Impasse," ibid.
64. Yang Tai-shun, "The New Party Has Won an Ultimate Triumph with Clean-Image Candidates," ibid.
65. Hu Fo, "An Overall Program Is Needed to Bridge Over the Ethnic Chasm," Lianhe bao, March 24, 1996, 7.
66. Ibid., 6.
67. Ibid.
68. William Buchanan, "Political Identification," in International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences, vol. 7, ed. David L. Sills (New York: The Macmillan Company and the Free Press, 1968), 57.
69. David Easton and Jack Dennis, Children in the Political System (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1969), 33.
70. Easton, A Systems Analysis of Political Life, 172, 196-211, 211-19.
71. David Easton, "Theoretical Approaches to Political Support," Canadian Journal of Political Science 9 (September 1976): 431-38.
72. The answers that respondents were asked to select ranged from "strongly disagree" to "strongly agree." Of the four questions, J6 and J8 were positive questions, with "strongly agree" awarded with the highest score; J7 and J9 were negative questions, with "strongly disagree" given the highest score. The respondents with high total scores had the Lee complex and those with low total scores had an anti-Lee complex: (J6) Some people have said: "At present, only Lee Teng-hui is able to maintain Taiwan's stability and prosperity." Do you agree with them? (J7) Some people have said: "Lee Teng-hui is the cause of the tense relations between Taiwan and mainland China." Do you agree with them? (J8) Some people have said: "Since Lee Teng-hui is the first Taiwanese president, we should support him to be president again." Do you agree with them? (J9) Some people have said: "Lee Teng-hui has Taiwan independence ideas." Do you agree with them?
73. Zhongguo shibao, January 11, 1996, 2.
74. Lianhe bao, December 16, 1995, 2.
75. Ibid., December 24, 1995, 4.
76. Ibid., December 14, 1995, 7.
77. Ibid., January 16, 1996, 2.
78. Zhongguo shibao, January 12, 1996, 2.
79. Respondents were asked eight questions. The answers ranged from "far better" to "far worse." Five points were given for a "far better" answer and one point was registered for a "far worse" answer. The respondents with a high score had a positive issue position and those with low scores had a negative issue position. The questions were as follows: (D1) In your opinion, is our entire society's present economic situation better, the same as, or worse than the previous year? (D2) In your opinion, will our entire society's economic situation next year be better, the same as, or worse than this year? (D5) In your opinion, is our present public security situation better, the same as, or worse than the previous year? (D6) In your opinion, will our public security situation next year be better, the same as, or worse than this year? (D7) In your opinion, is our present ethnic harmony better, the same as, or worse than the previous year? (D8) In your opinion, will our ethnic harmony next year be better, the same as, or worse than this year? (D9) In your opinion, are present cross-Strait relations better, the same as, or worse than the previous year? (D10) In your opinion, will cross-Strait relations next year be better, the same as, or worse than this year?
80. See note 6 above.
81. Horowitz, "Democracy in Divided Societies," 35.
82. Wachman, Taiwan, 26-27.
83. Ibid., 32.
84. Rustow, "Transitions to Democracy," 360.
85. Timothy M. Frye, "Ethnicity, Sovereignty and Transitions from Non-Democratic Rule," Journal of International Affairs 45, no. 2 (Winter 1992): 599-623.
86. Joseph Rothschild, Ethnopolitics: A Conceptual Framework (New York: Columbia University Press, 1981), 2.
87. Wu, "Ethnic Awareness," 33.
88. Leng and Lin, "Political Change on Taiwan," 838.
89. Lianhe bao, March 24, 1996, 6.
90. Wachman, Taiwan, 52.