NATION building, DEMOCRATIZATION, POLITICIANS, COLONIES, ELECTIONS, POLITICAL parties
Abstract
With democratization, the Taiwanese were able to freely express their Taiwanese identity, especially in opposition to efforts to bring Taiwan closer to China. This book derives from a wide-ranging conference on Taiwan at the University of Alberta from which the editors chose papers dealing with democratization and nation building. Ashley Esarey examines relevant events in the creation of the nation from the Japanese colonial period, through authoritarian Kuomintang (KMT) rule, and the democratization process up to the 2018 elections. [Extracted from the article]
ELECTIONS, VILLAGES, AUTHORITARIANISM, POLITICAL rights, PUBLIC opinion, DEMOCRACY, VOTER attitudes, CHINESE politics & government, 1949-
Abstract
How do authoritarian elections affect voters' attitudes toward the regime and their support for democracy? This article draws upon the case of village elections in China to argue that elections may have two simultaneous effects. First, free and fair elections increase citizens' confidence in the government. Second, elections also allow voters to exercise political rights and accumulate democratic experience through participation, and this in turn may trigger greater demand for further empowerment. Empirical analysis of data from a two-round nationwide survey conducted in 114 villages confirms both effects. One implication of these findings is that competitive elections may simultaneously boost regime popularity and increase public demand for further democratic reform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
NEGATIVE campaigning, ELECTIONS, POLITICAL campaigns, POLITICAL candidates, POLITICAL advertising, POLITICAL parties, INCUMBENCY (Public officers), PROPAGANDA, POLITICAL doctrines
Abstract
The article presents a study of political campaign behavior in Taiwan, examining reasons why positivity and negativity are used by parties and candidates within their efforts to become elected. Particular focus is given to negative campaigning and its use to downplay the merits of incumbents, as a propaganda tool in television and newspaper advertisements, and for the purposes of developing a public image of a candidate. Studies are discussed that reveal data related to campaign spending, allegiances to political parties, and political ideologies.