Mínzhǔ and Minjujuui: Autocratic Influence, Democratic Erosion, and Democratic Resilience in Taiwan and South Korea

Author: Nei Lauscher

Field of Study: Political Science

Program Affiliation: Source Project Research Program

Faculty Mentors: Matthew Cole

Easel: 106

Timeslot: Morning

Abstract: Taiwan and South Korea have emerged as two of the most influential countries in the 21st century, owing much of their success to the liberal democracies they have established in the third wave of democratization. However, despite the similarities between the two democracies, there is a lack of research comparing the two to the wider phenomenon of democratic backsliding. This article aims to evaluate these two East Asian countries in terms of their democratic resilience in an era of geopolitics defined by worldwide democratic regression. Through an examination of pre-democratic state design and institutional reform that accompanied democratization, along with an analysis of contemporary shifts in the political landscape utilizing both domestic and comparative lenses, this article shows what current threats exist for the two democracies, and how the nature of these threats may differ from what is seen in other third wave autocratizers.