Democratization and Welfare State Development in Taiwan

This title was first published in 2002: Since the bloodless transition from authoritarian state to fully-fledged democracy, Taiwan has undergone a period of dramatic social and political change. In a political culture increasingly dominated by platforms built on social policy issues, this book provides an intriguing case study of the application of welfare state theories to the real-life social development of Taiwan. Combining a state-of-the-art discussion of the major theoretical schools of thought with in-depth analysis of the electoral promises and programmes in recent Taiwanese elections, the book looks at the direct causal relationship between political competition in democratic elections and welfare state construction. It will prove essential reading for all those interested in the area of comparative social policy, welfare theory, Asian studies and politics.

Introduction; Welfare state theory; The political context of the welfare state in Taiwan; The development of the Taiwanese welfare state; The impact of the 1997 elections on social policy; The impact of the 1998 elections on social policy; Conclusions; Appendices; References.

Christian Aspalter