ABSTRACT

This book employs a policy-based approach to examine the emerging governance structure in Taiwan, one of several countries in East Asia where democratic consolidation is firmly established.

Each chapter provides a detailed investigation of reforms that have helped to strengthen Taiwan’s democracy in such areas as elections, civil service recruitment, economic policy, social policy, environmental protection, civil rights, response to the COVID-19 pandemic, civil–military relations, and foreign and mainland China policy.

As a study of Taiwan’s democratic governance, this book will be of interest to students and scholars of Asian politics, comparative politics, democracy, and Taiwan.

chapter |15 pages

Introduction

chapter 1|15 pages

Regime Type and Governance

The Case of Taiwan

chapter 3|17 pages

When Democracy Meets Bureaucracy

Studying Reforms of Taiwan's Civil Service Since Democratization in the Late 1980s

chapter 5|16 pages

From Developmentalism to Postindustrialism

The Evolution of the Welfare State in Taiwan

chapter 6|16 pages

Environmental Protection after Taiwan's Democratic Consolidation

Is Democracy Working for the Environment?

chapter 8|15 pages

When Democracy Meets the COVID-19 Pandemic

Taiwan's Experience

chapter 9|19 pages

Charting the Way Forward

Taiwan's Civil-Military Relations after 2016

chapter 11|16 pages

David vs. Goliath

Taiwan's Policy toward China