World Scientific Publishing Company Taiwan's Politics in Action: Struggling to Win at the Ballot Box

Product Description Taiwan's Politics in Action: Struggling to Win at the Ballot Box is about the most interesting and exciting aspects of Taiwan's politics: political competition in the form of electioneering, campaigns and voting. The author first analyzes the theories, constructs or simply ideas about elections, especially who wins them and why.The most discussed by the pundits and the scholars are the watermelon and the pendulum theory: voting as before or not. The economic, or pocketbook, theory is also popular - although whether this means economic growth or greater equity has changed. Which party or candidate has the most money is also predictive. Other constructs or simply ideas are also commonplace. Divide and conquer is another approach. Another is the best campaign agenda; so too picking the most attractive candidates. Professionalism in campaigning and the use of social media are also favorite ideas. So is the appeal to voters' ethnicity, espousing liberal or conservative ideas, using protest, focusing on constant concerns such as peace and corruption and finally, the appeals of populism and progressivism.The author then examines Taiwan's two most recent elections, the 2018 mid-term (or collection of local elections) and the 2020 national presidential and legislative election to apply the theories. The Nationalist Party or Kuomintang (KMT) won the former; the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) won the latter, giving the observer a choice of evidence about how to win.The author concludes that Taiwan's democracy is being challenged, but is still popular in spite of strong external forces and other worries. About the Author <p><strong>John F Copper</strong> is the Stanley J Buckman Distinguished Professor of International Studies (emeritus) at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee. He is the author of more than 35 books on China, Taiwan, and Asian affairs. His book <em>China's Global Role</em> (1980) won the Clarence Day Foundation Award for outstanding research and creative activity.</p> <p>Professor Copper's most recent books on Taiwan include <em>Taiwan in Troubled Times</em> (editor, 2001); <em>Taiwan: Nation-State or Province?</em> (4th ed., 2003); <em>Consolidating Taiwan's Democracy</em> (2005); <em>Playing with Fire: The Looming War with China over Taiwan</em> (2006); <em>Taiwan: Nation-State or Province?</em> (5th ed. 2009); <em>Taiwan's Democracy on Trial: Political Change During the Chen Shui-bian Era and Beyond</em> (2010); <em>The A to Z of Taiwan</em> (Republic of China) (2010); <em>The KMT Returns to Power: Elections in Taiwan 2008 to 2012</em> (2013); <em>Taiwan: Nation-State or Province?</em> (6th ed. 2013); <em>Historical Dictionary of Taiwan</em> (Republic of China) (4th edition 2014); <em>Taiwan at a Tipping Point: The Democratic Progressive Party's Return to Power</em> (2018); <em>Taiwan: Nation-State or Province?</em> (7th edition, 2020).</p> <p>Dr Copper has also contributed to more than 40 other books and has published over 150 articles and pieces in scholarly journals, magazines, and newspapers. Professor Copper has testified before several congressional committees, including the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee. In 1997 he was recipient of the International Communications Award for promoting global understanding. Dr Copper has lived in Asia for 15 years, including six years in Taiwan.</p>