Taiwan: Democracy, technology, and civil society

Wen Chen Chang, Chun Yuan Lin

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

This chapter analyzes Taiwan’s legal and policy responses to the Covid-19 pandemic. Given Taiwan’s geographical proximity and close economic ties with China, the initial epicentre of coronavirus, it was estimated to be hit hard by the global pandemic. Yet, defying these predictions, Taiwan maintained a considerably low number of confirmed cases and exhibited no sign of community spread. Taiwan’s near-miraculous achievement in controlling the Covid-19 pandemic proved that a democracy can successfully contain the spread of the virus. What this global pandemic reveals is that only a more transparent and responsive government can effectively deal with a public health crisis and other than legal rules, government capacity, the strength of the science and technology sector, and the vitality of civil society and local community are equally-if not more-important in forging a collective effort.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationCovid-19 in Asia
Subtitle of host publicationLaw and Policy Contexts
PublisherOxford University Press
Pages43-56
Number of pages14
ISBN (Electronic)9780197553831
DOIs
StatePublished - 21 Jan 2021

Keywords

  • Civil society
  • Covid-19 pandemic
  • Democracy
  • Global pandemic
  • Government capacity
  • Policy responses
  • Public health crisis
  • Science and technology
  • Taiwan

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