November 2018

Progressive Taiwanese Civil Society Sees Defeat By Way Of National Referendum

Brian Hioe
The results of referendum voting will no doubt come as a great shock to progressive Taiwanese civil society with, quite literally, all of the referendum proposals they championed being voted down. On the other hand, all of the referendums they opposed passed. However, not all of these achieved the necessary 25% of voter participation needed to be legally binding...
#22EnglishNovember 2018Social MovementsYouth Movements10 min read

KMT “Blue Wave” Takes Taiwan, Defeats For Progressive Civil Society On Referendums

Brian Hioe
Election results in 2018 local elections in Taiwan have been a surprise, with the apparent defeat of the DPP across much of Taiwan and a resurgent KMT. Referendum proposals pushed for by progressive civil society were widely defeated, but the NPP won 16 seats across Taiwan. The Taipei mayoral race has still yet to be called but is neck and neck between Ko and Ting...
#22EnglishNovember 2018Politics15 min read

What Will Happen If Progressive Taiwanese Civil Society Is Defeated Through The Referendum?

Brian Hioe
Referendum reform has historically been pushed for by progressive civil society groups in Taiwan, as a means to resolve longstanding issues blocked by the KMT and other conservative forces. Progressive civil society groups were finally victorious in amending the Referendum Act last year, lowering the benchmarks needed to hold a referendum in Taiwan. But what if the results of referendum voting tomorrow indicate that, ironically enough, conservatives have managed to hijack the referendum and to use it against progressive civil society?...
#22EnglishNovember 2018Social MovementsTheory and History11 min read

Will The DPP Lose Its Control Of Taiwan’s Six Special Municipalities?

Brian Hioe
With mayorship of all of Taiwan’s six special municipalities up for the vote in 2018 local elections, the DPP looks like it may have a tough time holding onto its current political dominance in four out of the six municipalities. Some take the view that DPP losses in these municipalities will allow the KMT to rebuild momentum, which is why DPP losses could be worrying...
#22EnglishNovember 2018Politics8 min read

What Will Become Of The Third Force In 2018 Elections?

Brian Hioe
Going into 2018 local elections tomorrow, it is a question as to what will become of Taiwan’s so-called “Third Force”. “Third Force” as a term refers to political parties which emerged after the 2014 Sunflower Movement, composed in large part out of young people, youth candidates, and activists turned politician, and which framed themselves as breaking from establishment politics both DPP and KMT...
#22EnglishNovember 2018Politics12 min read

Concerns That 2020 Olympics Name Referendum Could Lead To Taiwan Olympics Ban On The Rise

Brian Hioe
The most popular of the slate of referendums which are to be voted on this Saturday, the referendum on what name Taiwan will participate in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics under, has come under increased scrutiny in the past week. Namely, the International Olympics Committee has warned that Taiwan could be banned from participating in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics if the referendum is successful...
#22EnglishNovember 2018Self-DeterminationSocial Movements5 min read