Forming a Basis for Recognition: The Construction of a Taiwanese Hakka Identity through Government Policy since 2000

Abstract

In the past, the voice of Hakka people in Taiwan has been less heard due to their ethnic minority status and the Mandarin-only policy of the martial law period from 1949 to 1987. Taiwan's rapid democratization brought with it a revival of Hakka culture and identity. This revival could be seen as synonymous with or resulting from the rise of overall Taiwanese consciousness and nation building policies that took root during former president Lee Teng-hui's rule, and was further developed in the following years. This paper intends to explore the ways in which government policies after 2000 attempted to construct a Hakka identity in Taiwan that is unique from the other various groups in the worldwide Hakka diaspora. Particular consideration is given to the establishment of a Council for Hakka Affairs at the central government level in 2001, and the creation/launch of the annual Hakka Tung Blossom Festival in 2002. The Hakka social movement also played a considerable role in spurring and shaping Hakka government policy. Upon examination of the interplay between social movements, policy, and the formation of identity, it is suggested that the significant promotion of ethnic inclusiveness and a multicultural Taiwan offer an explanation for the construction and further development of a Taiwanese Hakka consciousness.