Situation Changes, Elite Choices And The Political Party System Transition In Taiwan

The transition of party system in Taiwan is one of the most important contents of Taiwan’s political development. For the theory, it will provide case supports not only for the theory of the party system and its transformation, but also for the theory of political democratization transition; for the practice, it will provide realistic materials not only for the combination of the Confucian tradition and Western democratic system (especially the party system), but also for the understanding of the political development in the context of economic development, social transformation and cultural changes; for the policy, it will help us to know Taiwan’s politics and the cross-strait relations better, and it’s good for the settlement of the Taiwan-Issue.The problems this articles foucused on are that "how" (the path) and the "why" (the reasons) the Taiwan’s party system transition happened. According to Huntington’s "the theory of third wave ", the author constructs the analytical framework in which "situation changes" and "elit choices" are the main explanatory variables. Then, through the research of the experience of Taiwan, the theory will be tested. The research foundings are as followed:The Path.1949-1986 is the pre-transition period of Kuomintang authoritarian regime; 1986-2000 is the transition period of Taiwan’s political party system:from authoritarian one-party system to the multiple, competing, and democratic system. In 2000 the transition is completed; after 2000, competitive multi-party system is in the period of consolidation. In the development process, it showed a two-party system trend.The Reasons. The situation change of the Taiwan caused the adaptive difficulties to the one-party authoritarian system, that is, the one-party system can not suit for the multiple strcture of economy, society and culture ("single" Vs. "multiple"), while the authoritarian one-party system can not meet the public demand for a wide range of democratic participation ("authoritarian" Vs. "democracy");In addition, the situation change of the Taiwan also led to the crisis of legitimacy of party-state authoritarian system. The legitimacy of one-party authoritarian KMT party-state system is largely based on the potential threat of mainland China and the U.S. external recognition and support. When the mainland of China had no longer used the force to liberate Taiwan as the first political choice, when geo-strategy of the United States had changed, when the wave of democratization had made the whole world accept democratic values, the legitimacy crisis of party-state authoritarian system had happened.Facing the adaptive difficulties and external legitimacy crisis, the ruling elites of the Chiang Ching-kuo and Lee Teng-hui, had to adjust the system and to seek legitimacy again, which brings the transition of the Taiwan’s political party system. After a series of liberalization and democratic reform, Taiwan’s party system had gradually changed, from single to multiple, from closed to open, from authoritarianism to democracy.Above all, the process of the transition of the Taiwan’s party system, in essence, is the process of political party system adaption adjustment and the reproduction of legitimacy, led by the ruling elites in the situation changes.