Reflections on Taiwan's Democracy during the Ma Ying-jeou Era

Session Submission Type: Roundtable Session

Abstract

In January 2016, voters in Taiwan will go to the polls to select a new president and legislature, drawing to a close President Ma Ying-jeou’s second and final term in office. This roundtable will bring together four specialists on Taiwanese politics to reflect on the legacy of the last eight years of rule by the Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party), and to consider the challenges facing the new administration, which takes office in May 2016. The panelists include both junior and senior scholars, with a mix of academic and policy experience, and with two based in the US and two in Taiwan.

The roundtable will consider questions about five key developments under President Ma. First, on cross-Strait relations: what has been the political impact of the wide array of agreements that Taipei signed with the PRC, and is this period of enhanced cooperation likely to be sustained by his successor? Second, on the economy: Taiwan’s economy has become increasingly integrated with that of mainland China. What are the long-term political consequences of this trend? Does the next administration have any feasible alternatives to continued dependence on the PRC market? Third, on social changes: wealth inequality has risen significantly under President Ma—why, and with what consequences for Taiwan’s social compact? Fourth, on social movements: social activism has surged during the Ma era, most notably during the student protests that came to be called the Sunflower Movement. What are the root causes of this increase in social movement activity, and what are likely to be the lasting consequences for Taiwan’s democracy? And finally, on democratic governance: the Ma administration to a surprising degree struggled to pass reforms and to respond effectively to social demands despite holding a large KMT majority in the legislature. Is this worrisome? Does it indicate a general decline in the Taiwanese political system’s ability to govern, or is it something more specific to the Ma administration?

In considering these questions, the panelists will contribute to the debate about both the state of Taiwan’s democracy and Ma Ying-jeou’s legacy as president.

Area of Study

• China and Inner Asia

Session Organizer

• Kharis Ali Templeman, Stanford University

Chair

• Larry Diamond, Stanford University

Discussants

• Shelley Rigger, Davidson College

• Szu-yin Ho, Tamkang University

• Yun-han Chu, Academia Sinica

• Yun Fan, National Taiwan University