For one thing, I regularly encounter people who claim that Chinese culture does not spouse itself with liberal democracy; admittedly, these people are often not China pundits and/or lack a differentiated view on Chinese society and politics. Secondly, for me one of the most astonishing aspects about Taiwan's democratization is that it involved the democratization of its former authoritarian party, the KMT. Although the transition was not entirely intrinsic, and pressure from outside played a crucial role, (as well as many other factors as you rightly pointed out), it gave leverage to progressive forces within the party. The fact that the KMT joined the forces of democratization and democratized itself explains why it is still a relevant political force in Taiwan today, though a conservative force. (Many countries with authoritarian pasts prohibited or dissolved the ruling authoritarian party after its regime was ousted but could never really get rid of anti-democratic forces or political groups adhereing to inhumane ideologies). We do not know what would have happened, if the KMT happened to win the civil war and the CCP retreated to Taiwan, probably they would have ruled China similarly to the CCP. For me, Taiwan is not a model because it proves that Chinese (political) culture does not foreclose the possibility of democracy, but that a previously Leninist authoritarian party - that was similar to the CCP in terms of structure and culture - maybe had no other choice but and had enough progressive forces within the party ready to democratize.
Thank you! 10 to 15 minutes of Kaiser’s lectures quite enjoyable. There is always something to learn. Most elements of Chinese history that Kaiser usually refers to have always been new to me. Thank you.
For one thing, I regularly encounter people who claim that Chinese culture does not spouse itself with liberal democracy; admittedly, these people are often not China pundits and/or lack a differentiated view on Chinese society and politics. Secondly, for me one of the most astonishing aspects about Taiwan's democratization is that it involved the democratization of its former authoritarian party, the KMT. Although the transition was not entirely intrinsic, and pressure from outside played a crucial role, (as well as many other factors as you rightly pointed out), it gave leverage to progressive forces within the party. The fact that the KMT joined the forces of democratization and democratized itself explains why it is still a relevant political force in Taiwan today, though a conservative force. (Many countries with authoritarian pasts prohibited or dissolved the ruling authoritarian party after its regime was ousted but could never really get rid of anti-democratic forces or political groups adhereing to inhumane ideologies). We do not know what would have happened, if the KMT happened to win the civil war and the CCP retreated to Taiwan, probably they would have ruled China similarly to the CCP. For me, Taiwan is not a model because it proves that Chinese (political) culture does not foreclose the possibility of democracy, but that a previously Leninist authoritarian party - that was similar to the CCP in terms of structure and culture - maybe had no other choice but and had enough progressive forces within the party ready to democratize.
Thank you! 10 to 15 minutes of Kaiser’s lectures quite enjoyable. There is always something to learn. Most elements of Chinese history that Kaiser usually refers to have always been new to me. Thank you.