The Taiwan Political Miracle Essays on Political Development, Elections and Foreign Relations

by Copper, John Franklin

• ISBN13: 9780761801122
• ISBN10: 076180112X
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1997-02-20
• Publisher: UPA

Summary

Much has been written about the 'Taiwan miracle'--referring to the extremely successful, widely praised and often emulated economic development of the Republic of China. Less has been written about Taiwan's political development, which in the past dozen or so years has been even more dramatic in many ways. In just three to four decades, the Republic of China's polity has been transformed from an authoritarian, closed system to a democracy. It did this without a contributing colonial experience and while living under the threat of invasion. This book assesses Taiwan's political modernization during a period when political change in Taiwan was remarkable both for its pace and for its impact on Taiwan's polity. During this time Taiwan became a paradigm for success in political modernization. Internal political reform was the most salient part of the modernization process. Elections likewise played an essential role. Finally, an effective foreign policy facilitated the process and vice versa. Students of the process of political development can and should learn much from Taiwan's experiences.

Table of Contents

Foreword
Preface
Section I: Essays on Politics and Political Change	1	(178)
Introduction	1	(8)
1. Political Development in the Republic of China, 1949-1981	9	(32)
2. Challenges to Political Development in Taiwan	41	(12)
3. Politics in Taiwan, 1985-86: Political Development and Elections	53	(22)
4. Profile: Remembering Taiwan's President Chiang Ching-Kuo	75	(6)
5. Ending Martial Law in Taiwan: Implications and Prospects	81	(22)
6. Democracy in Taiwan Challenges U.S.-China Policy	103	(10)
7. Taiwan's "Undemocratic" Elective Bodies of Government	113	(4)
8. Totalitarianism, Authoritarianism, and the Pursuit of Democracy	117	(16)
9. The KMT's 13th Party Congress: Democratizing the Party	133	(26)
10. The KMT's 14th Party Congress: Towards Unity or Disunity?	159	(20)
Section II: Essays on Elections and Party Competition	179	(224)
Introduction	179	(6)
1. Taiwan's 1980 Watershed Election	185	(18)
2. Taiwan's 1983 National Election	203	(20)
3. Taiwan's 1986 National Election: Transition to Democracy	223	(22)
4. Taiwan's 1989 National and Local Election	245	(24)
5. Taiwan's 1991 Second National Assembly National Election	269	(22)
6. Taiwan's 1992 Legislative Yuan Election	291	(28)
7. Taiwan's 1994 Governor and Mayoral Elections	319	(30)
8. The Evolution of Political Parties in Taiwan	349	(24)
9. Opposition Politics in Taiwan	373	(14)
10. Minor Parties in Taiwan	387	(16)
Section III Essays on Foreign Policy and Diplomacy	403	(146)
Introduction	403	(6)
1. Taiwan's Strategy and America's China Policy	409	(16)
2. The Fishing Islands Controversy	425	(10)
3. Taiwan's Options	435	(12)
4. Taiwan's Legal Status	447	(16)
5. The Taiwan Relations Act as Viewed from Beijing and Taipei	463	(24)
6. Taiwan's Diplomatic Isolation: How Serious a Problem?	487	(10)
7. Taiwan's Security: Problems and Prospects	497	(20)
8. The Taiwan Relations Act: A Ten Year Record	517	(12)
9. Washington's View of Taiwan	529	(4)
10. Taiwan and the New World Order	533	(16)
Acknowledgements	549	(1)
Index	550
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