The 2024 McCain Global Leaders will be traveling to Taiwan for a week of in-depth exploration of the island’s fledgling democracy, examining its remarkable successes and the ongoing challenges it faces. Taiwan’s transformation from military rule to a model of democratic governance in Asia serves as a crucial case study in building strong institutions, cultivating civic identity, and safeguarding democracy against authoritarian pressure. These lessons are timely, as Taiwan finds itself at the intersection of U.S.-China competition, exemplifying the tension between democratic and authoritarian models.
Taiwan’s democratic system developed organically from twenty years of brutal military autocracy into the bastion of democracy in Southeast Asia, largely through public pressure and international isolation.The Kuomintang (KMT) party’s economic reforms fostered a growing middle class that demanded political rights. In 1971, the People’s Republic of China replaced the Republic of China (ROC) as the government of China in the UN, isolating Taiwan diplomatically. The US subsequently switched its diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing, ending its mutual defense treaty with Taiwan. In response, Taiwan sought to create values-based alliances and bolster legitimacy through democratic reforms. By 1987, the KMT lifted martial law, reinstated civil rights, and paved the way for the island’s first elections. Since then, Taiwan has defied global trends of democratic backsliding, emerging as a global leader in democratic governance, maintaining peaceful transitions of power, and ranking high on global democracy indices. Freedom House rates Taiwanese democracy 94/100, making it the second-freest in Asia, while the Economist’s Democracy Index ranks Taiwan 10th strongest, and the Human Freedom Index, which measures personal, civil, and economic freedom, ranks Taiwan 12th.
Taiwan’s democracy is not only a political achievement but has become a core element of national identity. The percentage of citizens who identify solely as “Taiwanese,” as opposed to “Chinese” or a combination of the two, has grown from 25% in 1996 to over 60%, reflecting the development and normalization of democracy. A Brookings Institution study found that while most Taiwanese acknowledge cultural similarities with China, they maintain a fundamental opposition to the Chinese political system, citing democratic values rather than perceived ethnocultural differences for their rejection of Chinese identity. This solidification of liberal ideals in Taiwanese identity signifies the health of the democracy as democratic norms and institutions remain a priority for the populace, bolstering Taiwan’s resilience in the face of external pressure
Taiwanese democracy retains immense geopolitical significance in the era of great power competition between the United States and China. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) views Taiwan as a strategic and symbolic asset. Taiwan’s location along vital shipping lanes would expand China’s influence over the South and East China Seas and provide access to the Pacific. Control of Taiwan would also grant access to Taiwan’s thriving semiconductor industry, a crucial component in global technology supply chains.
Taiwanese democracy is a focal point in the New Cold War between democracy and authoritarianism. As Robin Niblett argues, authoritarian states run by a single central government, spend nearly all of their time attempting to retain that power. Rigid authoritarian states increasingly view small democracies as existential threats, underscoring the power of democratic resistance. The CCP perceives Taiwanese democracy as a threat to its authority, as it undermines the notion that democracy and Chinese culture are incompatible. Taiwan’s system of governance serves as a viable alternative to communist autocracy, offering a model not only for the Chinese people but for all of Asia, demonstrating that a successful transition from military dictatorship to full democracy is achievable. Analyzing Taiwan’s history can provide valuable insights for future democratic movements in the region.
Taiwan’s educational utility lies not only in its democratic formation but also in its resilience against Chinese pressure. Taiwan’s democracy, though young, emerged partly as a response to the Chinese political system, embedding a strong democratic identity. Some scholars now contend that China is more likely to intensify its coercive military and economic tactics– such as military incursions, disinformation campaigns and tampering with communications infrastructure– than to launch a full-scale amphibious attack in an attempt to reclaim the island. These tactics aim to weaken Taiwan’s government and undermine its democratic norms without triggering international military intervention. Taiwan’s deep-rooted association of democracy with national identity has strengthened its resilience, but a sustained commitment of its government and citizenry to bolster democratic institutions is necessary.
The McCain Global Leaders have the opportunity to learn from the Taiwanese experience in protecting a democracy under threat, and will critically examine the strengths and weaknesses of the ROC government. The Global Leaders will meet with NGOs working to foster and strengthen democracy in Taiwan including the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, the International Republican Institute, Freedom House, and the Taiwan Fact Check Center to examine how to use civil society to support democracy and protect human rights. The MGLs will have the opportunity to meet with senior officials in the ROC government and nonpartisan organizations to examine how to counter authoritarian pressure, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Member of Parliament Puma Shen, and receive a tour of the Legislative Yuan. Lastly, the McCain Global Leaders will be immersed in Taiwanese culture, exploring cultural sites, including the historic Ciyou Temple, Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial, Raohe Night Market, and the Pinglin Old Street district and tea farm. Taiwan’s experience will offer the McCain Global leaders practical insights into how democratic resilience is cultivated, the role of civic identity in sustaining democratic systems, and the strategies necessary to counter authoritarian influence, better equipping them to support and strengthen democratic movements in their own regions and beyond.