Myth and Reality in Taiwan’s Democratisation

Abstract

Taiwan began democratisation in 1988 after the death of President Chiang Ching-kuo. However, even three decades later, a substantial number of Western scholars still argue that Chiang established democracy in Taiwan. This article demonstrates that Chiang Ching-kuo did not establish democracy. The article also examines related issues such as whether there are differences between “liberalisation” and democratisation and whether or not the regime of Chiang Kai-shek and Chiang Ching-kuo was colonial. Thirty years after democratisation in Taiwan, too many scholars still follow the false history that the former dictatorship mandated, but now, under democracy, scholars should have a much better understanding of Taiwan’s history and politics.