Date of Creation
12-15-2022
Degree Type
Thesis
Department
Political Science
First Advisor
Prof. Maria Rodrigues
Abstract
Using the Sunflower Movement of 2014 as a case study, this research paper will seek to answer the question: “what is the primary motivator for political activism in Taiwan in the 21st century?” This paper draws on existing research, historical events, and interviews to examine 1) what causes people to mobilize a social movement or a protest, and 2) how attachment to democratic values is an important explanation for the onset of activism. The approach this paper takes is that ongoing commitment to democratization is the primary driver of activism, and that this particular movement is the latest iteration in the ongoing cannon of Taiwanese protest movements following its democratization in 1989. It takes into account the role of an emergent Taiwanese identity and Cross-Strait relations as motivators, finding them to be secondary to commitment to democracy.
Recommended Citation
Wagner, Katherine Ann, "The Sunflower Movement of 2014: How Commitment to Democratization Drives Activism in Taiwan" (2022). Washington Semester Program. 8.
https://crossworks.holycross.edu/washington/8