Social Movements in Taiwan: A Typological Analysis

Abstract

Since the 1980s, three waves of social movements have taken place in Taiwan's civil society. These waves played an important role in bringing about the end of martial law and political liberalization. Some scholars have questioned the direct effects of protest movements upon the transformation of authoritarian regimes but others maintain that organized social movements have great impact on pushing and persuading the authoritarian regimes to opt for democratization (Hsiao and Koo 1997). The evidence for the Taiwan case supports the latter view.