A Global Forum on New Democracies is scheduled to take place on Friday in Taipei with President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and six former world leaders attending the event to share their experiences of promoting democratic transitions during the "third wave of democratization." This term was coined by political scientist Samuel Huntington for the global trend that has seen more than 60 countries experience democratic transitions since 1974.
The event is being held by the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy (TFD) and will take place at the Grand Hyatt Hotel. The Presidential Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are co-sponsoring the initiative assembly at the forum.
Chen mentioned the forum in his New Year's Day speech and said that he would seek suggestions and solutions to the predicaments and problems that new democracies encounter from former presidents and political leaders from around the world and foster a regular global forum on new democracies with that aim.
Former South Korean president Kim Dae-jung, former South African president Nelson Mandela, former Polish president Lech Walesa, former Czech president Vaclav Havel, former Mongolian prime minister Rinchinnyamiin Amarjargal and an unnamed former Latin American president will be guests of honor at the forum, according to sources who wished to remain anonymous.
But both Tung Li-wen (董立文), deputy executive director of the TFD and MOFA spokesman David Wang (王建業) yesterday declined to confirm the names of the guests of honor, noting it was a sensitive issue and for fear of pressure from China, saying the TFD would not announce the names until tomorrow.
Tung pointed out that countries that underwent democratic transitions in the "third wave of democratization" accumulated precious experience for nations facing similar democratic reforms, but it was a pity that these had not been properly collected and presented to the world.
"Therefore, if this forum is successfully held, it will be an unprecedented achievement in compiling these experiences as primary sources for the study of global democracy," Tung said.
The meeting will be more like an experience-sharing forum between Chen and the six other former leaders, rather than a formal academic meeting, Tung said.
"These leaders will share the policy-making and problem-solving strategies they used when they encountered setbacks and challenges during their terms. They will also share their experiences and ideas during the discussion. President Chen will attend the event from beginning to the end," Tung said.
Before the forum, the TFD will hold an international symposium on Thursday at the Grand Hyatt Hotel where academics will discuss the topic. Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-Pyng (
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