ABSTRACT
The analysis begins by depicting the origins of the anti-nuclear movement in Taiwan, right at the time when the martial law period was coming to an end. This chapter sketches the organizational structure of the movement, its main strategies and its relationship with political parties and society at large from the 1980s until 2008. It focuses on the most significant post-2008 events for the anti-nuclear movement, such as the Kuomintang (KMT)-led proposal of holding a referendum on the island's Fourth Nuclear Power Plant (NPP-4) and describes how the movement has changed in its organization, tactics and alliances with other social movements, with political organs and with society at large. The chapter analyses the significance of the Sunflower Student Movement for the anti-nuclear cause and the ultimate decision to halt NPP-4's construction. Social activists, aware of the significance of the leverage that could be exerted, also attempted to turn environmental and nuclear-related issues into electoral topics.
