Between democracy and authoritarianism

Two great recent blog posts explore the tension that exists between the authoritarian culture of the past and the rising democratic culture in Taiwan.

Holly at The Taiwan Chronicles writes that her head is exploding. Michael Turton writes about Democracy Inaction in the Universities. Michael writes:

Incidents like this serve as a reminder that although Taiwan's political order is nominally democratic, institutionally and mentally, the Taiwanese live in an authoritarian world that is ill prepared for the up and coming democratic generation.

I often wonder how democracy has managed to develop as far as it has in Taiwan when so many elements of the culture are distinctly anti-democratic. It is the battle between these two opposing forces that is very much shaping Taiwan in the present and will determine the path Taiwan takes in the future.