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.

1. Taiwan’s Civil Society
GPAD2370: Taiwan Studies
Dr. Wai-Kwok Benson Wong
Government & International Studies Dept.
Hong Kong Baptist University
March 31, 2011

2. Civil Society (Janoski, 1998)
2GPAD2370

3. Civil society in Chiang’s era (1950s-mid-1970s)
KMT
Private
3GPAD2370

4. Civil society in the late Chiang’s era (Mid-
1970s-1988)
KMT
Private
4GPAD2370

5. Civil society in the post-Chiang’s era (1988-)
KMT
Private
5GPAD2370

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)
6GPAD2370

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
7GPAD2370

8. E.g., Farmers’ Association
8GPAD2370

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)
GPAD2370 9

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
GPAD2370 10

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
GPAD2370 11

12. Lukang demonstrations鹿港反杜邦運動
POLS1140 | T3 12

13. Declaration
我們再不願成為污染的受害者之後，才貧
病交加地四處陳情，我們再不願坐視貽害
子孫的跨國工業侵入我們的土地。我們要
站起來說，我們有權決定自己生存的空間
及足下的土地。我們要求：鹿港鎮全民投
票決定要不要杜邦 (Deciding to closure of
Du Pont Chemical plant by exercising
referendum in Lukang town)
彰化縣公害防治協會籌備委員會
POLS1140 | T3 13

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
GPAD2370 14

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

16. Influence of Taiwan’s CS
16GPAD2370

17. 17GPAD2370

18. 18GPAD2370

19. 19GPAD2370

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)
GPAD2370 20

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?
GPAD2370 21

22. Reference
Ho, Ming-sho (2010). “Understanding The
Trajectory of Social Movements in Taiwan
(1980-2010)”, Journal of Current Chinese
Affairs. 3, 3-22.
GPAD2370 22