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How can a small democracy resist the influence of a powerful authoritarian neighbor? Taiwan is frequently praised for its successful economic development and peaceful transition to democracy, serving as a model for other developing countries. However, it faces substantial challenges, both from internal political divisions and external geopolitical pressures. Taiwan's political landscape is shaped by several significant cleavages: national identity and ethnic disparities, economic inequality and class conflict, and generational and cultural differences. The greatest challenge to Taiwan's democracy comes from the influence of China, which has exploited these cleavages through economic leverage, propaganda, and political interference.
Under the heavy influence of Beijing's sharp power, Taiwan's democracy often faces threats of regression. Whenever China escalates its tactics, Taiwan's civil society has mobilized in response, playing a crucial role in resisting Beijing's strategies and defending democratic institutions. Thung-Hong Lin examines case studies—such as the 2014 Sunflower Movement, the 2019 support for the Hong Kong protests, and recent social movements in 2024—to demonstrate how Taiwan's vibrant civil society is a key source of democratic resilience. This book also situates Taiwan's struggle within the broader context of US-China relations, showing how global geopolitics over the past half-century has shaped the island's destiny.
"As global democracies confront xenophobic populism and authoritarian expansion, Thung-Hong Lin provides a rigorous analysis of Taiwan's resilience. This study demonstrates how a robust civil society and strategic economic autonomy safeguard democratic institutions against internal and external pressures. A brilliant, essential contribution that provides a vital roadmap for democratic sustainability."—Ming-sho Ho, National Taiwan University
"What enables some democracies to endure while others falter? Thung-Hong Lin turns to Taiwan for answers. Drawing on decades of original research, he shows that democratic survival depends not only on institutions or economic development, but also on the strength of civic networks and society's capacity to resist authoritarian pressure from both outside and within. This urgent, rigorous book is indispensable for understanding democratic resilience in an age of authoritarian resurgence."—Ya-Wen Lei, Harvard University
"Few democracies face what Taiwan faces. In Stormy Seas, Thung-Hong Lin traces how civic activism has again and again defended the island's free society against mounting pressure at home and from China. A timely reckoning with what democratic resilience demands in an era of intensifying geopolitical competition." —Syaru Shirley Lin, Chair of the Center for Asia-Pacific Resilience and Innovation