Towards a Consolidated Democracy? Informal and Formal Institutions in Taiwan's Political Process

Abstract

Institutionalization plays an important role in democratic consolidation. This paper goes beyond constitutional reforms and takes a closer look at the institutions, both informal and formal, that have shaped and influenced Taiwan's political process since its successful democratic transition. It seeks to elucidate in a systematic way the role major informal networks have played, and in a second step examines their relationship with the formal institutional environment. Political representation in Taiwan is found to have been, to a great extent, based on informal institutions which undermine democracy. The relationship between these informal institutions and the formal institutions has been largely complementary, meaning that formal and informal institutions have reinforced each other. In cases where conflicts existed, the sanctions that the formal institution carried were either toothless, or their enforcement was lax. Seen in this light, Taiwan's process of democratic consolidation was largely stagnating until the changeover of power in May 2000. However, the new administration's sweeping out black gold- policies are a step in the right direction and might eventually serve to initiate further institutional reform.