Admiring the peaceful political transition in Taiwan

Abstract

Purpose Given the recent peaceful turnover of power through a highly participatory democratic election, now is a good time to consider Taiwan and its political development. Design/methodology/approach The author reviews how, over two decades Taiwan has undergone a remarkably peaceful transition from what was essentially an authoritarian, one-party dictatorship by the KMT to a vibrant multiparty democracy, a sharp contrast to what has occurred during the same period in China. Findings When the traditional ruling party of a country–like the Kuomintang in Taiwan– finds itself completely out of power and wandering in the wilderness, yet still manages to conduct itself with grace and dignity, and in so doing, allows the country to prosper – that affirms the stability and progressive potential of the country’s politics. Practical implications Not only has Taiwan’s economy seen a sustained period of fast growth over multiple decades, but the economy has grown without seeing a substantial uptick in economic inequality, a feat many developed nations have failed to achieve. Originality/value Taiwan’s two decades of political stability makes is an attractive commercial partner.