The Power of Sunflower

Political Connection ◽

Democratic Values ◽

Peace Dividend ◽

2016 Election ◽

Economic Ties ◽

Progressive Party ◽

The Way

This article examines the genesis of Taiwan’s 2014 Sunflower Movement and how it contributed to the decisive defeat of the Kuomintang (KMT) in the 2016 election. The KMT’s accommodating approach to Beijing since 2008 had deescalated cross-strait military tensions and facilitated closer economic ties. However, the so-called “peace dividend” was not evenly distributed but remained a privilege of the minority who enjoyed political connection. The Sunflower Movement’s support came from believers in democratic values and sovereignty, as well as those who expected future joblessness. The widespread perception of threatened democracy and economic victimization constituted the root causes of the Sunflower Movement, paving the way for the historical victory of the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in 2016.

Misalignment between Social Movements and Political Parties in Taiwan’s 2016 Election

Asian Survey ◽

10.1525/as.2018.58.5.874 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 58 (5) ◽

pp. 874-897 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Lev Nachman

Keyword(s):

Social Movements ◽

Political Parties ◽

Political Party ◽

Presidential Election ◽

Nationalist Party ◽

2016 Election ◽

Progressive Party ◽

Opposition Movement

Why would opposition movement activists not support an established opposition political party? Taiwan’s 2016 presidential election is apropos. This study shows that the Democratic Progressive Party lost support from leftist activists not only because of ideological distance but because they see the party as flawed and ineffective. But activists still voted strategically for Tsai Ing-wen and the DPP to thwart the Nationalist Party from winning the election.

China ties at stake again as Taiwan polls approach

10.1108/oxan-db198283 ◽

2015 ◽

Keyword(s):

Public Opinion ◽

Presidential Candidate ◽

China Policy ◽

Content Type ◽

Parliamentary Elections ◽

Presidential Nomination ◽

Opposition Party ◽

2016 Election ◽

Subject Politics in Taiwan as the 2016 election comes into view. Significance Public opinion continues to swell for Taiwan's chief opposition party, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), as the 2016 presidential and parliamentary elections come into view. A recent poll indicated that more than 57% of respondents believed that the DPP's likely presidential candidate, Tsai Ing-wen, would be elected president. Tsai, currently the only candidate for the DPP presidential nomination, will unite the party. Other heavyweight candidates have already bowed out. Impacts The lack of a primary challenge will let Tsai move toward the centre on cross-Strait relations. A more moderate China policy will allow Tsai to prevent a rift with Washington, Taiwan's most important ally. The DPP's economic populism will prevent serious debate over heavily subsidised energy and healthcare. China would prefer a Kuomintang victory but will moderate its pre-election comments to avoid a backlash that helps the DPP.

Taiwan in 2010

Asian Survey ◽

10.1525/as.2011.51.1.76 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 51 (1) ◽

pp. 76-84 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Hung-Mao Tien ◽

Chen-Yuan Tung

Keyword(s):

Economic Cooperation ◽

Taiwan Strait ◽

National Elections ◽

Framework Agreement ◽

Nationalist Party ◽

Mayoral Elections ◽

The Taiwan Strait ◽

Economic Ties ◽

The November 2010 urban mayoral elections in Taiwan will set the stage for national elections in 2012 between the Nationalist Party and the rising Democratic Progressive Party. Meanwhile, Taiwan and China successfully concluded the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement in summer 2010, deepening economic ties across the Taiwan Strait.

Taiwan's State and Social Movements Under the DPP Government, 2000–2004

Journal of East Asian Studies ◽

10.1017/s1598240800002058 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 5 (3) ◽

pp. 401-425 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Ming-sho Ho

Keyword(s):

Social Movements ◽

Social Movement ◽

Economic Recession ◽

Contentious Politics ◽

Political Orientation ◽

Opportunity Structure ◽

Conservative Policy ◽

Movement Strategy ◽

This article explores the evolution of social movement politics under the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government (2000–2004) by using the perspective of political opportunity structure. Recent “contentious politics” in Taiwan is analyzed in terms of four changing dimensions of the opportunity structure. First, the DPP government opens some policy channels, and social movement activists are given chances to work within the institution. Yet other features of the political landscape are less favorable to movement activists. Incumbent elites' political orientation shifts. As the economic recession sets in, there is a conservative policy turn. Political instability incurs widespread countermoblization to limit reform. Last, the Pan-Blue camp, now in opposition, devises its own social movement strategy. Some social movement issues gain political salience as a consequence of the intervention of the opposition parties, but its excessive opportunism also encourages the revolt of antireform forces. As a result of these countervailing factors, social movements have made only limited gains from the recent turnover of power.

The One-China Principle: The Positions of the Communist Party of China (CCP), the Kuomintang (KMT), and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)

American Foreign Policy Interests ◽

10.1080/10803920.2000.10392071 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 22 (6) ◽

pp. 22-31

Author(s):

Xu Shiquan

Keyword(s):

Communist Party ◽

Communist Party Of China ◽

The One ◽

Signs of Change? An Analysis of Taiwan's December 2009 Local Elections

Journal of Current Chinese Affairs ◽

10.1177/186810261003900109 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 39 (1) ◽

pp. 175-197

Author(s):

Stefan Braig

Keyword(s):

Local Elections ◽

County Level ◽

Stable Position ◽

Government Decision ◽

Special Circumstances ◽

Under special circumstances created by a government decision to partly merge and upgrade six counties and county-level cities to special municipality status, local elections took place on December 5, 2009 in areas covering less than half of Taiwan's population. The results are generally seen as an important, though small, victory for the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). The ruling Kuomintang (KMT) (Guomindang), however, has remained in a stable position, while the DPP still has a long way to go towards a comeback.

Polarization, Gridlock, and Presidential Campaign Politics in 2016

The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science ◽

10.1177/0002716216658921 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 667 (1) ◽

pp. 226-246 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Gary C. Jacobson

Keyword(s):

Social Values ◽

Political Attitudes ◽

Electoral System ◽

Presidential Campaign ◽

Divided Government ◽

National Politics ◽

Party Line ◽

2016 Election ◽

Low Levels ◽

The Way

The American electorate has grown increasingly divided along party lines in recent decades, by political attitudes, social values, basic demography, and even beliefs about reality. Deepening partisan divisions have inspired high levels of party-line voting and low levels of ticket splitting, resulting in thoroughly nationalized, president- and party-centered federal elections. Because of the way the electoral system aggregates votes, however, historically high levels of electoral coherence have delivered incoherent, divided government and policy stalemate. The 2016 nomination campaigns have exposed deep fissures within as well as between the parties, and their results threaten to shake up electoral patterns that have prevailed so far during this century, with uncertain and perhaps unpredictable consequences for national politics. The 2016 election is certain to polarize the electorate, but the axis of polarization may not fall so neatly along party lines as it has in recent years.

Taiwan's new government will upset regional status quo

10.1108/oxan-db211313 ◽

2016 ◽

Keyword(s):

Social Services ◽

Domestic Politics ◽

Mainland China ◽

Judicial Reform ◽

Content Type ◽

Truth And Reconciliation ◽

Trade Blocs ◽

Progressive Party ◽

Female President

Subject The outlook for Taiwan under the new administration. Significance Tsai Ing-wen, leader of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), was sworn in on May 20 as Taiwan's first female president and only its second leader not from the Kuomintang party, which has governed the island for all but eight years since 1945. In her inaugural address, Tsai outlined a five-point plan focused on reviving a stagnant economy, increasing social services for a rapidly aging population, and moving the export-driven economy away from a reliance on mainland China, Taiwan's largest market. Impacts Restructuring the economy will take time, and public pressure will build if global demand for exports does not rise quickly. Taiwan's bids to join regional trade blocs will meet resistance from China, which will press other countries to block it. Initiatives on judicial reform and 'truth and reconciliation' that discredit the Kuomintang will make domestic politics more acrimonious.

Party coup changes Taiwan election outlook

10.1108/oxan-db206081 ◽

2015 ◽

Keyword(s):

Trade Agreements ◽

Legislative Elections ◽

Content Type ◽

Significance Eric Chu, the party chairman, was nominated to replace Hung Hsiu-chu, whose candidacy failed to rally support within the party. He will run against Tsai Ing-wen, leader of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party. Impacts Cross-Strait relations will once again play the central role in the 2016 presidential and legislative elections. The Kuomintang's diplomatic stance will shift toward the DPP's in an attempt to assuage concerns over cross-Strait policy. Although Tsai has promised not to undo trade agreements with China, she is unlikely to press ahead with new ones. China will remain largely silent on the Taiwanese elections, to avoid reinforcing anti-China sentiment that is widespread in Taiwan.

Taiwan-China city-level ties bypass central government

10.1108/oxan-db240989 ◽

2019 ◽

Keyword(s):

Central Government ◽

National Level ◽

Decisive Role ◽

Local Elections ◽

National Elections ◽

Content Type ◽

Chinese Investment ◽

National Governments ◽

Subject Relations between sub-national governments in Taiwan and China. Significance China is attempting to bypass Taiwan’s central government -- with which it has severed formal ties -- and forge better relations with major municipalities and locally elected leaders. These efforts have found greater success since recent local elections that dealt major setbacks to the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). Impacts Politicians from both parties will be emboldened to turn to Chinese investment to stimulate local economies. Han Kuo-yu, newly elected mayor of Kaohsiung city, could lead the main opposition party’s comeback at the national level. Relations with China are likely to play a decisive role once again in Taiwan’s 2020 national elections.