Elections for township repre-sentatives and borough wardens were held recently amid much discussion about the need for such elections. The debate should have focused on the crucial issue of how to deepen and strengthen Taiwan's democracy.
For a long time now, we have been dividing society into a duality consisting of the state and the markets, or, to put it another way, the public and private spheres. The sphere that lies between the two, civil society, however, is rarely mentioned or subject to any practical planning. But if a democratic society is to continue to improve and consolidate, the construction of civil society is crucial.
This involves the creation of an arena in which free rein can be given to the public's enthusiasm for all manner of things, airing and developing those aspects of life that have been beyond the ambit of government and sowing the seeds of a vital and dynamic civil society.
The construction of civil society in Taiwan will fill the widening gap between an ever smaller national government and constantly growing international markets. The establishment of such a bottom-up relationship should provide the government with a cultural foundation and eliminate concerns surrounding the inadequacies of government decision-making, thus increasing the effectiveness of policy.
A study by Robert Putnam of Harvard University into regional government in Italy showed how the central government attempted to iron out inequalities between the north and south of the country by allocating additional funds to the poorer south, only to end up producing further inequalities. The study showed that the reason for the inequalities was a difference in social capital; historically accumulated civic traditions and trust between citizens in the north resulted in superior government. In other words, the question of whether public expenditure can be effective chiefly depends on the efficiency with which civil society is capable of using it.
Social unity can make up for public expenditure, while mutual understanding and guidance can promote rational social discourse without diminishing society's capacity for humane conduct.
Citizen-initiated work, guided by civil society, will not be restricted by the framework of the nation state, but will instead support and enrich international civil society, its networks and social movements. The opportunity for people to reach out to international society will provide an appropriate means of initiating international movements in which the participants are able to focus completely on the task at hand.
Taiwan is proud of its democratic political system and the government is calling for the economy to improve, while also hoping that Taiwan will not be swallowed up by the waves of globalization. The construction of a civil society as globalization takes hold will facilitate recognition of a collective awareness. A deeply rooted collectivity will become a driving force for sustainable local development, which will lead to a good living environment and the creation of local characteristics, thus enriching the effects of globalization.
The social capital of economically successful nations will be of the same standard as the material capital. The possibility of this coming to pass depends substantially on the creation of civil society.
With the elections for Taipei and Kaohsiung mayors to follow close on the heels of the local elections, I hope that Taiwan will be able to use these elections to tailor a suitable democratic system for itself. Let us not forget that turning civil society into an arena for competition will both deepen democracy and enhance the prospects of eliminating vested interests.
Lu Chia-feng is a student in the School of Pharmacy of National Taiwan University.
Translated by Perry Svensson
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