ABSTRACT

In this chapter, after reviewing competing standards and defi nitions of democracy and democratic consolidation, I will briefl y sketch the chronological process of Taiwan’s democratization. Next, the chapter will appraise the leading explanations for Taiwan’s transition and assess where Taiwan fi ts in the comparative democratization literature. This will be followed by sections analyzing whether Taiwan can be viewed as a consolidated democracy and detailing how we can assess the quality of the island’s democracy. How does Taiwan’s democracy compare with other Third Wave democracies? Lastly, the debate over whether Taiwan’s democracy is regressing will be considered, along with some of the remaining challenges facing the island’s democracy.