An Exploratory Study of Political Support in Taiwan

Abstract

[enter Abstract Body]In this study, we examine how people’s perceptions on military threat and economic prosperity might affect their political support. In order to explore the nature of people’s political support, we compare people’s democratic support with their presidential approval to see how different factors might affect their political support. We employ survey data conducted on March in 2010 to find that people among the youngest generation, pan-blue supporters, with higher political trust, evaluating cross-Strait relations, and perceived cross-Strait trade benefit national economy tend to approve president’s job. However, people among younger generations, people with higher education, people supporting pan-green camp, and people perceiving military threat from China are more likely to support democracy. Another interesting finding is that people perceiving cross-Strait trade have positive effect on Taiwan’s economy are less likely to support democracy. Therefore, this study finds that different factors affect people’s evaluation toward president and democracy, and people intending to keep distance from China are more likely to support democracy in Taiwan.