Customer Reviews

From Opposition to Power: Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Shelley Rigger's book about the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is the first academic book exclusively dedicated to Taiwan's most succesful opposition party of the 1980s and 1990s. Taiwan-expert Rigger sheds some light on the party's development since its foundation 1986 up until after the succesful presidential election in March 2000, when DPP-candidate Chen Shui-bian won the presidency. This well-written book is thus poised to become a standard book of reference when talking about the often misunderstood DPP. But here also lies the problem of Rigger's most recent work: She tries to defend the DPP against widespread criticism (that the party's moderation throughout the 1990s was only tactical and not substantial) while downplaying the fact that the DPP's party machine up until the present day is still controlled by hardliners who favor Taiwan Independence (TI) over anything else. This misunderstanding has much to do with her underconceptualization of factionalism within the party. Rigger claims that the DPP's factions are institutionalized and should be envisaged as quasi-autonomous actors vis-a-vis party institutions. Taiwanese factionalism-experts however have convincingly argued that factionalism within the DPP encompasses all administrative levels and penetrates all party institutions. The party is also mainly controlled by the New Tide faction, which can be more accurately described as a party within a party. This faction is furtive as it doesn't name its 100 or more followers and its island-wide faction branches are loyal only to the faction and not to the party in general. The New Tide's control of the party machine thus calls into question the party's overall moderation. Also, while the DPP should be praised for its contributions to Taiwan's democratization the downsides resulting from the party's internal development should not be downplayed either, namely the emergence of strong Taiwan chauvinism and nationalism. Both clearly originated from within the DPP's New Tide faction. The book thus is a good start for all those who would like to learn more about the DPP, but it might not satisfy all those who are already familiar with the party's overall development.

President and DPP Chairman Chen Shui-bian's successful re-election bid in Taiwan's presidential election earlier this year, against a unified opposition, has solidified his party's hold on power. With legislative elections later this year, and the political momentum turning its way, the DPP has a chance to make a clean sweep of the Nationalist Party from the main halls of power. Having shown it is a serious political party, and not just the fortunate benefactor of a divided opposition, as it was in 2000, understanding the DPP has become a necessity for those serious students of Asia interested not just in Taiwan politics but in cross-strait issues as well.

This book, which details the rise of the DPP from a scattered and unorganized set of factions during the Martial Law Era to the surprising prominent national force it became with Chen's first election as Taiwan's president in 2000, is the best introduction of the party I've read in English. The author Shelley Rigger tells the history of the DPP, outlines its organization, describes how it makes decisions, shows the importance of factions to its makeup, and demonstrates how the Taiwanese public views the party. The book also discusses the DPP's policies, and how the history of the party's opposition to the ruling KMT left it with little of a sustainable and broad-based ideology beyond pushing for greater democratization.

Much has happened in Taiwan politics since this work was first published in 2001, dating some of Rigger's observations in the book. For example, she thought the DPP still faced enormous obstacles in becoming a permanent balancing force in the island's politics. Chen's recent re-election against a united Pan-Blue opposition appears to be proof that whatever obstacles existed, they have been overcome. Even had Chen lost the election (and it was a controversial election, decided by a very narrow margin), that he could have run such a competitive race, after what even many supporters considered a lackluster four years governing the island, shows the large political gains his party has made during his tenure in office.

Rigger is a serious scholar and is fairly objective throughout the book. However, she is sympathetic to the DPP and occasionally tries too hard, in my opinion, to justify the party to her English-reading audience. An example of this is on the issue of independence. She writes about the DPP dropping its policy of a formal declaration of independence as an example of heart-felt moderation, rather than political maneuvering. But the party's steady focus on several policies associated with independence (passports, constitution, referenda, educational content, etc.) suggests the party is dedicated to a strategy that will make the country ripe for independence. There's nothing wrong with that, of course, but Rigger downplays the point, perhaps fearing it might be misconstrued by her readers and reinforce the already widespread belief outside Taiwan that the DPP is reckless on the issue.

This is a great book for those unfamiliar with Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party. It presents an objective analysis of the DPP's history, prospects, and role in a democratic Taiwan. Those who respect democratic values will be inspired by the DPP's fight to overcome martial law and influence Taiwan's democratic developments. Perhaps one day the Western world will realize that it is Taiwan's government that is truly legitimate, while China's oppressive regime is the real enemy to human rights and decency.