This document discusses the history and development of civil society in Taiwan. It describes how civil society emerged under authoritarian KMT rule from 1949 to 1988, with few independent organizations allowed. It grew gradually from the 1970s onward as social movements and new organizations addressed issues like the environment, human rights, and labor. After martial law ended in 1987, civil society blossomed with hundreds of new organizations influencing policymaking and empowering citizens in areas like education, gender equality, and judicial reform. Civil society has played a key role in Taiwan's transition to a democratic system.
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Civil Society in Taiwan
1. Taiwan’s Civil Society
GPAD2370: Taiwan Studies
Dr. Wai-Kwok Benson Wong
Government & International Studies Dept.
Hong Kong Baptist University
March 31, 2011
3. Civil society in Chiang’s era (1950s-mid-1970s)
KMT
Private
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4. Civil society in the late Chiang’s era (Mid-
1970s-1988)
KMT
Private
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5. Civil society in the post-Chiang’s era (1988-)
KMT
Private
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6. Civil Society: Historical review
1. KMT rule (1949-88)
Martial law: no political parties, no freedom of
speech, assembly, association & communication
(Except such foreign associations as Red Cross,
World Vision, the Christian Children’s Fund, etc &
transplanted social clubs, e.g., Rotary and Lions
Club)
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7. Civil Society: Historical review
Penetration of party network in different aspects
of society & @ local level: the military, the
bureaucracy, young people, farmers & workers,
coalition with local factions, corporatist model in
dealing with trade unions, trade associations &
farmers’ associations
Cultural hegemony: suppressed the indigenous
culture & advocated the Chinese culture
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9. CS & Social Mov’t
Background: diplomatic setbacks & economic
recession challenged the KMT’s authority
1975: China Tide (夏潮)
Political opposition movement (e.g., Kaohsiung
Incident, 1979)
Chiang CK’s attitude (cf. Chiang KS’s repressive
approach)
Emergence of social movements/protests in the
early 1980s: consumers, farmers, & laborers, etc.
came out with the (ref.: Lung Yingtai 龍應台: The
Collection of the Wild Fire 野火集)
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10. 1980-86: Fermentation [1]
Indirect approach
medical doctors, journalists, college professors &
lawyers
Foundation & magazines
E.g., Consumers’ Foundation 消費者基金會 (1980),
Awakening Magazine 婦女新知 (1982), New
Environment Magazine 新環境 (1986)
When criticizing the gov’t, they anticipated
cooperation with the more liberal segments of the
KMT officialdom
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11. 1980-86: Fermentation [2]
Direct approach
Intellectuals, journalists & lawyers
1984: Taiwan Assn. for Legal Assistance to Workers
台灣勞工法律支援會, Taiwan Assn. for Human
Rights 台灣人權促進會, Taiwan Assn. for
Promoting Aborigines’ Rights 台灣原住民權利促進
會
Grass-roots people: self-relief activism
1986-87: Anti-DuPont campaign
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14. Popular Upsurge (1987-92)
Background: 1987: Lifting of martial law Political
liberalization
February 28 Peace Day Promotion Assn. 二二八和平日
促進會, Assn. for Reforming University Law 大學法改
革促進會, Taiwan Women’s Rescue Assn. 台灣婦女救
援協會, Taiwan Teachers’ Human Rights Assn. 台灣教
師人權促進會, the Hakka Magazine 客家風雲,
Farmers’ Rights Promotion Assn. 農民權益促進會,
Taiwan Environmental Protection Union 台灣環境保
護聯盟, & Humanistic Education Promotion Society 人
本教育協會
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15. Socio-political transformation (1993-99)
1994: legislating environment impact assessment
1995: Teachers’ Assn教師會, Assn for Taiwan
Journalists 台灣新聞記者協會,
1996:
revision of the legal regulation on marriage &
legislation on sexual offenses (1997) & domestic
violence (1998)
extension of Labor Standard Law
1997: Judicial Reform Foundation 民間司法改革基
金會
1999: Taiwan Health Care Reform Foundation 台灣
醫療改革基金會, Taiwan Media Watch 台灣媒體觀
察教育基金會 GPAD2370 15
20. Effectiveness of CS on polity & society [1]
1. Empowering the citizens & the socially
marginalized people
2. Informing and educating the public on social
issues
3. Protecting & promoting human rights
4. Building social capital
5. Ensuring the accountability of state
6. Influencing social policy (e.g., education)
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21. Effectiveness of CS on polity & society [2]
Relationship with the political parties, notably
DPP (serve as political resources during
elections?)
Values: mutual respect, pluralism (in face of
ethnical/national identity),…
populist-democratic culture?
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22. Reference
Ho, Ming-sho (2010). “Understanding The
Trajectory of Social Movements in Taiwan
(1980-2010)”, Journal of Current Chinese
Affairs. 3, 3-22.
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