ABSTRACT

Taiwan’s bid to become an observer at the World Health Assembly was launched in 1997. The bid is analysed in line with the elements of governance (norms, actors, processes and outputs/outcomes) identified in Chapter 2. The elements are identified with regard to the WHO in general and in parallel to Taiwan’s campaign to obtain observer status. As Taiwan is an irregular state, attention is paid in particular to the issues that make its bid problematic. The elements of governance systems identified in Chapter 2 provide a framework for such an analysis in this chapter. They are then brought together in Chapter 5 to provide a more comprehensive analysis of the campaign and Taiwan’s dilemmas.