Tchajwanské organizace občanské společnosti a jejich role v čínsko-tchajwanských vztazích
Taiwanese Civil Society Organisations and Their Role in Cross-Strait Relations

Summary/Abstract: Substantial part of the academic world as well as politics recognizes civil society organizations as important positive actors in political change, in democratization as well as in peacebuilding. But the empirical evidence from some conflict prone areas show that civil society organizations can have substantial conflict boosting potential. This article investigates the role of Taiwanese civil society organizations in shaping the relationship between Mainland China and Taiwan. It shows that Taiwanese CSOs hold a very complicated position which has in fact added to tensions in cross-strait relations. The conflict potential of Taiwanese CSOs in cross-strait relations grows not only from the difference in political regimes between China and Taiwan, but also from the special relationship of Taiwanese CSOs with political elites, the incompatibility of building peace in cross-strait relations and democratization in Taiwan, from the Chinese concentrated action against Taiwanese CSOs in international arena and from the deep division of the Taiwanese society about the political future of the island.

• Details
• Contents