漁會侍從連結的變遷（1985-2016）－以基隆區漁會為例

Abstract

In Taiwan’s local politics, Farmers’ Associations, Irrigations Associations, and Fishermen’s Associations are significant contributors providing resources of electoral mobilization for local factions and political parties. However, the Fishermen’s Associations are less concerned in the study of local politics due to the sporadically located feature as well as the insufficient members for candidates to win the local election. Past studies have paid little attention to the interaction between Fishermen’s Associations, local factions, and parties. In order to understand the interaction, the paper will answer following questions: what is the role the Fishermen’s Association plays in local politics? How does the party alternation at the national and local level impact on the role? Does the change of political environment strengthen or weaken the cliental linkage between the Fishermen’s Association and local factions? In this paper, Keelung Fishermen’s Association in Keelung is concentrated. The Fishermen’s Association has long been an important player in Keelung’s politics due to the prosperity of the fishery industry in the region. For example, 3 out of 9 Chairmen of the Association were elected as members of the city council. The development of the political and economic environment led to the decline of local factions and emergence of the two-party system. At the same time, the established cliental structure has been changed. There are 3 findings in the research: first, the ability of electoral mobilization of the Fishermen’s Association has decreased. Though supported by the Association, candidates still encountered difficulties winning the election. Second, the worsening operating conditions of the Association resulted in the dependence on the subsidy of the government, particularly the local government after the introduction of the Local Government Act. With the success of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), the relationship between Keelung Fishermen’s Association and Kuomintang (KMT) was weakened and the phenomenon of “patron shift” was found in the cliental structure. Third, a new relationship was observed in the linkage between the Association and the DPP. The DPP consolidated the supports of fishermen by providing not only favorable policies, but also private services and relations. The conclusions regarding the change of the cliental linkage and diversification of patrons are consistent with the findings of past studies. Nevertheless, more research is needed to investigate whether the linkage between the DPP and Keelung Fishermen’s Association exists in other cities, and whether the loyalty of such Associations will be changed successfully by the linkage.