ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book introduces modern Taiwanese politics from a comparative political science perspective and inspires reader to delve deeper into the subject. It also introduces how Taiwan was governed during its four-decade-long martial law period. The book provides Taiwan's government structure in its democratic era. It looks at the captivating subject of Taiwan's electoral politics. The book introduces the main political parties that have dominated Taiwan politics since the 1980s and how they compare with parties in other democracies. It considers the changing patterns of politics at the local level. The book focuses on the competing nation-building projects that have been promoted by Taiwan's political elites before and after democratization. It considers the question of whether democracy is working in Taiwan by looking at three key policy areas: social welfare systems, political corruption and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender rights.
