Democratization, Divided Government and the 2001 Taiwanese Legislative Yuan Elections

Abstract

The 2001 Legislative Yuan elections in Taiwan were the first to be held following the change in control of the presidency that occurred after the 2000 elections. The transition from a one-party dominant system to one where the opposition had control of the government provides a good opportunity to examine the prevalence of democratic attitudes in Taiwan. Democracy can be frustrating when control over public policy is divided between two opposing groups. Under these circumstances, it could be reasonable for voters to desire a return to authoritarianism government. In a survey conducted following the 2001 Legislative Yuan elections, Taiwanese citizens were asked a series of questions about democratic norms. In this article, I analyze these attitudes as a means of exploring how Taiwan’s voters feel about democracy as Taiwan moves away from a one-party dominant system and faces potential difficulties operating within a multi-party semi-presidential system.