Tchaj-wan – mladá čínská demokracie
Taiwan – Young China’s Democracy

Summary/Abstract: The essay deals with the rise of democracy in Taiwan, points out the specific role of the reform politician Lee Teng-hui, and his contribution by accelerating the evolution from authoritarian regime to a democratic one. The contemporary political situation in Taiwan is characterised by the existence of two strong political blocks – the pan-blue and pan-green alliances, which have been formed along the two main political parties: the Kuomintang (KMT) and the Democratic progressive party (DPP), former opposition. Taiwan’s dilemma of future reunification with the mainland China (People’s Republic of China) is an important political issue, which divides the two leading alliances, as well as the public opinion. The phenomenon of the rising Taiwanese nationalism, which is used by the pan-green alliance, is becoming a substantial circumstance in power competition. The final part of the essay aims to present the specific case of Taiwan’s democracy along with the debate in Foreign Affairs (May/June 1998) about the mutual connection of democracy and liberalism. The discussion opposed the article written by the journalist Fareed Zakaria who had pointed out the positive role of liberalisation under the authoritarian regimes in comparison with quick democratization in non-liberal backgrounds.

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