From Autocracy to Democracy:
The Taiwanese Experience
David W.F. Huang
Academia Sinica
National Taiwan University
The Nature of Democratic
Transition in Taiwan
• Democratic transition in Taiwan has been
marked as “transformation” (in Huntington’s
typology), in which the elites take the lead to
liberalize, and then democratize the system.
• The KMT authoritarian regime in Taiwan has
never been overthrown, Instead, its elites
steered through the transition phrase,
negotiating with and responding to the
oppositionists’ and international pressures.
The Nature of Democratic
Transition in Taiwan
• Though Taiwan’s opposition movements
had participate in elections under the
name “Tangwai” (literally, non-KMT) since
the late 1970s, it was the establishment of
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) on
28 Sept., 1986 and the KMT regime’s
tolerance that marked the beginning of
democratic transition in Taiwan.
The Progress of Democratic
Transition in Taiwan
• The KMT authoritarian regime, under the
late president Chiang Ching-Kuo’s
authorization, decided to commit itself to
constitutionalism and Taiwanization of the
KMT regime.
• For example, under tremendous domestic
and international pressures, the KMT
regime abolished martial law in 1987.
The Progress of Democratic
Transition in Taiwan
• Lifted press restrictions in 1988.
• Enacted the Assembly and Parade Law in
1988.
• Revised the Law on Civic Organization to
allow the formation of opposition parties in
1989. (So effectively legalized DPP)
• In 1991, KMT regime agreed to force
retirement of MPs elected in mainland
China since 1947.
The Progress of Democratic
Transition in Taiwan
• Implemented free and competitive
elections for all seats in the National
Assembly in 1991, and the Legislative
Yuan 1992.
• Terminated the period of National
Mobilization for the Suppression of
Communist Rebellion, abolished
Temporary Provisions to the ROC
Constitution in 1991.
The Progress of Democratic
Transition in Taiwan
• Revised Art. 100 of the criminal Code
(which made criminal “intention”
punishable) in 1992.
• De-politicized the military in 1993.
• Reformed the ROC constitution to allow
the president and vice president to be
directly elected by the people in 1994.
The Progress of Democratic
Transition in Taiwan
• On 23 March 1996, Lee Teng-Hui, a native
Taiwanese, was elected by popular votes
as the president of ROC, hence
completing the phrase of democratic
transition, if according to Hungtington’s
definition.
• It remains to be seen whether the above
transitional achievements can endure and
be consolidated.
Into the Phrase of Democratic
Consolidation
• Linz and Stepan define consolidated
democracy as “ a political regime in which
democracy…has become ‘the only game
in town’…In short, with consolidation,
democracy becomes routinized and
deeply internalized in social, institutional
and even psychological life, as well as in
political calculations for achieving
success.”
Into the Phrase of Democratic
Consolidation
•
Four dimensions of democratic
consolidation:
1) Entrenchment of democratic institutions,
such as universal suffrage, free and
competitive elections, constitutional
government, viable political parties, free
expression and association, autonomous
media and civil society, civilian control of
military, protection of minority right, etc.
Into the Phrase of Democratic
Consolidation
2) The whole hearted endorsement of
democratic values, such as liberty rights,
justice, trust, toleration, mutual respect,
willingness to compromise, and above all,
a believe in legitimacy derived from the
practices of democratic institutions.
Into the Phrase of Democratic
Consolidation
3) Identification with the democratic state.
As Linz and Stepan say, ”democracy is a
form of governance of a state. Thus, no
modern polity can become democratically
consolidated unless it is first a state.” So
regime legitimacy derived from democratic
practices can be problematic if some
people believe that sovereignty belongs to
a different political entity.
Into the Phrase of Democratic
Consolidation
4) Coherent mechanisms that assisting
democracies to endure. According to
Przeworski el al., after examining 135
countries from 1950 to 1990, what make
democracy endure are “democracy,
affluence, growth with moderate inflation,
declining inequality, a favorable
international climate, and parliamentary
system.”
Is Taiwan’s Democracy
Consolidated?
• In terms of entrenchment of democratic
institutions, Taiwan can be regarded as a
consolidated democracy. For example, fair
and competitive elections have been
installed since the 1980s. Elections are
held virtually every year regarding offices
of ward/village chief, town/city mayor,
county magistrate, to provincial governor,
members of local assembly, NA and LY,
and president/vice president.
Is Taiwan’s Democracy
Consolidated?
• Another example is the entrenchment of
viable political parties. Since the
legalization of organizing political parties in
1989, more than 80 parties registered, but
like other democracies, only a few parties
are electorally viable. Party alignment,
dealignment, and realignment occur on
every election, in which party system is
expected to be stablized after the
introduction of the Single Member District.
Is Taiwan’s Democracy
Consolidated?
• Moreover, since the termination of martial
law in 1987, and lifting the ban on the
press and association, Taiwanese people
has gradually enjoyed freedom of
expression and association without fear of
state repression. According to the
Freedom House Survey, Taiwan has been
listed in the category of “entirely free”
among other advanced western
democracies.
Is Taiwan’s Democracy
Consolidated?
• Protests and demonstrations are
organized freely and executed virtually on
daily basis. Media in Taiwan are very
aggressive, exerting independent
judgments on political events. Cable TV
and radio stations are so popular in
mobilizing opposition sentiments that
political propaganda by the government
become less effective.
Is Taiwan’s Democracy
Consolidated?
• In 1986, Thomas Gold commented,
“Clearly, civil society wields much clout in
Taiwan, as politicians attempt to co-opt
and latch on to movements originating
within society. Much of the political agenda
is now being set within civil, not political
society.”
Is Taiwan’s Democracy
Consolidated?
• Since the repeal of the Temporary
Provisions and Art. 100 of the Criminal
Code in 1991 and 1992, constitutional
rights of Taiwanese people have generally
been protected. The independence of
judiciary is generally respected by legal
professionals, though some ill-conceived
political interventions remain, but met with
public outcry.
Is Taiwan’s Democracy
Consolidated?
• In the KMT authoritarian regime, Taiwan’s
military is under the KMT party control. With
democratization, military is effectively being depoliticalized. The progress toward nationalization
of the military has been completed after General
Hual Pei-Tsun was forced to retired and became
minister of national defense. Moreover, military,
security, and intelligence budgets are
extensively reviewed by the LY, making it
impossible to obey to any single political party.
Is Taiwan’s Democracy
Consolidated?
• With regard to the dimension of
endorsement of democratic values,
Taiwanese people in general fulfill their
commitment to democracy, freedom, and
human rights. According to various
surveys from 1984 to 2001, increasing
percentages of Taiwanese people
disagree or disagree strongly with the
following statements, such as
Is Taiwan’s Democracy
Consolidated?
• “everybody should think uniformly,”
“government should decide what idea be
circulated” and “If the government is
constantly checked by the legislature, the
government cannot be competent.” But the
commitment to freedom of thought
seemed to decline a little bit with power
transition to the DPP. Perhaps, it is due to
vicious party competitions and legislative
deadlock out of the minority government.
Disturbing Factors of Democratic
Consolidation
• While Taiwan can be regarded as a
consolidated democracy with regard to
dimensions of entrenchment of democratic
institutions and the endorsement of
democratic values, there are disturbing
factors shown in the dimensions of
identification of the democratic state and
coherent mechanisms assisting
democracy.
Disturbing Factors of Democratic
Consolidation
• Ethnic divisions within Taiwan, namely
Hokkian, Hakka, Mainlander, and
aboriginal people.
• Legacy of confrontations between the
Republic of China (ROC) and the People’s
Republic of China (PRC).
• Ambivalent attitudes toward the future of
Taiwan.
Disturbing Factors of Democratic
Consolidation
• Incoherence of mechanisms assisting
democratic consolidation includes,
dyfunctional semi-presidential system,
bird-caged referendum system, uncertain
effects of new electoral system, and
confining conditions set out by China and
other international powers.
Conclusion
• Further democratic consolidation in
Taiwan is conditional more on international
factors than on domestic politics.
• The strive for “normalization” of
democratic state in Taiwan is often
intervened by the US for the sake of
maintaining status quo.
Conclusion
• The confining conditions, as set out by the
PRC’s “anti-session law,” will not depress
Taiwan identity, but rather they undermine
the legitimacy of Taiwan’s democratic
state.