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Home Issues Backissues Volume 31, No.1 Ethnic Conflict and Democratic Consolidation in Taiwan: The Logic of Nation-State Policy and Democratic Policy

Ethnic Conflict and Democratic Consolidation in Taiwan: The Logic of Nation-State Policy and Democratic Policy

Yu-tzung Chang
1996 / 05
Volume 3, No.1

pp.179-202
Paper

Abstract

In the process of Taiwan's democratization, some have intentionally provoked ethnic conflict and make it into an issue. If such a phenom-enon continues, there will be difficulties in consolidating Taiwan's democratic system. In this article, the author will examine wether the Re-public of China (ROC) on Taiwan possesses the following conditions needed for democratic consolidation: a structural change in people's eth-nic identities; increased support for the democratic system; the forma-tion of a power-sharing political culture; and a shift of campaign –appeals from ethnic conflict to other topics. The research findings indi-cate that recent developments in Taiwan's political culture will ensure further consolidation of democracy in the future.

Keywords

Ethnic conflict

Consolidation

Nation-state policy

Democratic policy

Party-led consolidation

Elite-led consolidation

Structural-led consolidation

Cultural-led consolidation

Conflict displacement

Crosscutting issue