Politicized Society: The Long Shadow of Taiwan's One-Party Legacy

摘要

As I write, Taiwan is in the throes of a typically hard-fought campaign, the first combined election for the presidency and parliament. Candidates have put forward their platforms and attacked their opponents' performance and proposals in election ads, at rallies and in televised debates. The opposition candidate, Tsai Ing-wen has mobilized dissatisfaction with incumbent President Ma Ying-jeou's policy performance and put forward an alternative vision for Taiwan's economic development and relationship with China. That she and her DPP party have become viable challengers to the current regime appears to be a sure sign of the competitiveness and health of Taiwan's democracy. Given this scenario, it may seem an incongruous moment to note that all is not well with democracy in Taiwan.