ABSTRACT
This chapter argues against the transitions approach assumptions about the salience of actors' preferences for uncertainty in democracy. It reviews the media and Taiwan's transition reveals basic similarities to the organizational continuities and consequent political exploitation seen in post-communist East Central Europe. The conceptual claims and empirical findings in this study allow an assessment of other non-Leninist transitions. The conceptualization of political opportunities available from existing institutional rules, relationships, and roles would apply equally to transitions in Southeast Europe, Latin America, or Asia. Normative and empirical models of media performance are another area of scholarship relevant to this study. The model calls for decentralized control over media production, access to media in local communities and for individuals, little of which is happening, especially in broadcasting. The chapter also presents some closing thoughts on the key concepts discussed in the preceding chapters of this book.
