A contextual analysis of the evolution of transitional justice: the story of Taiwan

Abstract

ABSTRACT Taiwan confronted the challenge of transitional justice when it underwent democratic transitions in the late 1980s. This article examines Taiwan’s undertaking of transitional justice, the impacts of contextual dynamics on such undertaking, and the extent to which civic engagement and the incorporation of international human rights norms have facilitated transitional justice initiatives. The article argues that Taiwan’s negotiation-based transition and authoritarian legacy have substantially shaped the limited development of transitional justice at the early stage of democratisation. Influenced by civic engagement and the domestic implementation of international human rights instruments, new transitional justice mechanisms have been initiated in recent years. These bottom-up mechanisms are examined and highlighted to offer insights for advancing transitional justice and democratic consolidation.