Party Systems And Its Causes In Taiwan

One important research subject in political science is party systems and its causes. Almost of the authors in the past paid their attention on the seats that main parties got in the parliament, but the result just tell part of truth. Party systems exit not only in seats, but also in voters and votes, so party systems should divide into 1)party systems in voters that is party identification in voters,2)party systems in votes, and 3)party systems in seats, these three parts make up the whole party systems. There are two research approaches on the causes of party systems, one is social base, the other is electoral system. We think that party systems is shaped by these two causes jointly and sequentially. Social bases determined the party systems in voters, electoral system's psychological factor transforms the party systems in voters into party systems in votes, and then electoral system's mechanical factor transforms the party systems in votes into the party systems in seats.The second chapter in this thesis we analyze the relationship between the main social cleavage in Taiwan and party identification in voters, we find that the position voters stand on Tong-du issue determined their party identifications. The third chapter we investigate the process from party systems in voters to party system in votes, we find that the party systems in votes is shaped by party systems in voters and electoral system's psychological factor jointly in Taiwan. The forth chapter we study electoral system's mechanical factor, we find this factor is elaborated by six dimensions: electoral formula, district magnitude, party threshold, parliament size, ballot structure, district boundary. These findings demonstrate the framework of our research maybe acceptable.We anticipate that the party systems in voters and votes will develop into two-party systems, the party systems in seats maybe will maintain the status quo. The DPP will not show its rationality, they will take two routes to protest against the unfairness of the electoral system: boycott in Legislative Yuan and protest on street, and the DPP has opportunity win the right to govern. This will give the development of Taiwan party politics and Cross-Strait relationship some variation.