Symbolic versus Pragmatic Politics in Taiwan

• In Event: The Taiwan Voters

Abstract

Scholars generally agree that identity formation is both cultural and cognitive. At the individual level, however, it is not entirely clear whether voters are heterogeneous in being symbolic or pragmatic in identity politics. In Taiwan, where relations with China define the major political cleavage, voters have distinct preferences on the issue of independence. We identify two types of voters, symbolic and pragmatic, according to whether their preferences on independence are conditional or unconditional on China’s potential counter actions. Specifically, symbolic voters have unconditional preferences on independence, while pragmatic voters are more agreeable to independence under more favorable conditions. Using multiple wave data from Taiwan National Security Surveys (TNSS 2002-2019), we investigate the individual- and aggregate-level factors that shape their types.

Authors

• Tse-min Lin, University of Texas, Austin

• Chun-Ying Wu

• Theodore Charm, University of Texas at Austin