Parties and party systems

Abstract

This chapter reviews the existing research and key trends of continuity and change in Taiwan's party politics. It also reviews key patterns of party and party system change over four time periods. These include the democratic transition period (1987–1992), the Lee Teng-hui era (1993–2000), the Chen Shui-bian era (2000–2008) and the Ma Ying-jeou era (2008–present). The inter-party relationship fluctuated between high levels of antagonism and periods of cooperation during this initial multi-party period. The domination of the national identity issue on the political agenda partly explains why it was two identity-focused parties rather than leftist parties that dominated the early multi-party elections. The inter-party relationship remained almost as hostile as it was during the democratic progressive party era. For instance, the prevalence of parliamentary violence and disruption has remained high. The Kuomintang had a long history of being highly centralized and dominated by its party leader.

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