Seattle: University of Washington Press, 2020. xviii, 235 pp. (Tables, graphs, B&W photos.) US$30.00, paper. ISBN 978-0-295-74680-7.
The concepts of nation-building and democratization remain understudied in current comparative and international politics. The book under review, Taiwan in Dynamic Transition: Nation Building and Democratization, offers a selection of essays that demonstrate a nuanced evaluation of contemporary Taiwanese politics, providing an alternative explanation of Taiwan’s national identity development. While existing literature has largely focused on the island’s political development, especially the transition from an authoritarian regime to democracy, most scholars believe Taiwan’s democratic identity facilitates the cultivation of its diplomatic space. Ryan Dunch, one of the co-editors of this volume, stresses the uniqueness of the Taiwanese case in the introductory chapter, highlighting its significance to the study of “nationalism and nationhood, identity, and the institutionalization and consolidation of democratic and law-based governance” (4). Ashley Esarey, the other editor, agrees with Dunch’s view; he further asserts that Taiwan’s democratization since the1980s has been an indispensable part of the nation-building process. Democratization, according to Esarey, is crucial for the Taiwanese people to develop their national identity, which is distinct from the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
Following Esarey, the remaining chapters of the volume explore Taiwan’s nation-building and democratization from different perspectives. In chapter 1, Rwei-Ren Wu adopts a macro-historical approach to examine the formation of a nation-state in Taiwan. He believes that rule by different authorities in Taiwan has played a crucial role in the development of national identity. Specifically, Wu believes nation-state formation in Taiwan is a “cumulative effect…which created favorable preconditions that paved the way for Taiwan’s eventual democratization after 1987” (64). Wu argues that nation-state formation is a way toward a legitimate democratic ideology embedded into Taiwanese national identity. In chapter 2, Jiunn-rong Yeh explores Taiwan’s nation-building from a constitutional perspective. Yeh argues that Taiwan’s constitutional amendment from the 1947 version to the 2005 constitutional reform provides a way of examining the rapid emergence of Taiwan’s nationhood. Yeh believes the 2005 constitutional reform process was a way of nourishing a constitutional culture that is far more “comprehensive, periodic, and citizen-centric” (91). Yeh concludes that such a Constitution, with citizen-centric elements, facilitates the process of nation-building and the development of nationalistic sentiment in Taiwan.
Where Wu and Yeh concentrate on nation-building, the authors of chapters 3 to 7 provide a comprehensive analysis of political transition and highlight its implications for nation-building in Taiwan. In chapter 3, Benjamin L. Read examines electoral politics in Taiwan. He provides a detailed explanation of how party politics, gender, and generational transition exist at the lowest electoral level. His detailed exploration of the neighbourhood warden (lizhang) elections in urban Taiwan allows us to understand how Taiwanese can enact their “nationhood” at the community level. In chapter 4, Ketty W. Chen addresses the politics of the Sunflower Movement in 2014, demonstrating how the student activists, civil society, and the opposition politicians—especially those affiliated with the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)—formed a coalition to confront the dominant Nationalist government. She argues that the Sunflower Movement can be considered as the catalyst that consolidated “Taiwan-centric local identity” through citizen engagement with politics, especially amongst youth. In chapter 5, Chia-Wen Lee focuses on an alternative angle to understanding democratization. First, she examines the controversy surrounding the death penalty in Taiwan. She argues that the death penalty debate has a political agenda, with abolitionists believing it offers a golden opportunity for Taiwan to gain legitimacy with the West as a liberal democratic regime. The last two chapters provide a nuanced exploration of Taiwan’s defense reforms. Both chapters stress how political scandals and corruption have become significant obstacles to the Taiwan military’s attempts to promote progressive reforms. In chapter 6, Eric Setzekorn identifies Taiwan’s democracy as a means to an end in military reform. In contrast, in chapter 7, Ja Lan Chong asserts that the Taiwanese military should make efforts to rebuild public confidence by consolidating public support for the military. Both chapters stress that domestic actors play a crucial and more vital role than other external actors like the PRC. These chapters highlight the significance of rebuilding public trust as an answer to external challenges.
Objectively speaking, this collection of essays offers some insightful arguments for evaluating contemporary Taiwanese politics. The majority of the contributors overwhelmingly stress how the Taiwanese experience displays the crucial aspects of a “free and self-determining” nation-state, and explicitly consider Taiwan’s political transition and democratization as a means of fostering nation-building. Most essays utilize the “institutionalized statehood” framework to explain the formation of Taiwan’s national identity. The authors believe that Taiwan’s national identity has been forged by “internal processes of struggle, communication, political participation, road building, education, history writing and economic development” (6). However, Taiwan’s political transition and democratization should be considered a state-building process, rather than “nation-building.” Sustainable development and state survival in the international arena remain significant themes for Taiwan. Political transition and democratization are critical for Taiwan to develop a democratic identity, and earn the support of the international community. Unfortunately, most of the essays in this volume fail to explain the emergence of democratic identity while concentrating too much on a nationalistic approach. Overall, however, this book contributes to the study of contemporary Taiwan in both historical and political contexts.
Jeff Hai-chi Loo
University of Waterloo, Waterloo