選舉輸家與民主鞏固－台灣2004年總統選舉落選陣營對民主的態度

Election Losers and Democratic Consolidation: The Election Losers' Attitudes toward Democratic Ruling Party in the Taiwan 2004 Presidential Election

張佑宗(Yu-Tzung Chang)

《臺灣民主季刊》 6卷1期 (2009/03) Pp. 41-72

https://doi.org/10.6448/TDQ.200903.0041

摘要

民主體制具有脆弱性，選民透過選票所作出的集體決定，可能製造民主鞏固難以超越的障礙。選舉結果使選民被區分爲贏家與輸家，選舉輸家對民主體制的支持態度，通常會比較不明確或不堅定。所以，民主體制得以運作與持續的原因，並不在贏家的勝利，而是在輸家的自我克制。輸家必須接受令其反感的選舉結果，以及造成如此結果的民主程序。本文從對民主的認同與對民主體制表現的評價這兩個面向，建構一個台灣社會對民主支持的不同類型，以此比較選舉贏家與輸家在民主支持態度上的差異。本文的研究結果顯示，選舉結果所產生的勝選陣營與敗選陣營，的確在民主支持的態度上具有差異。對選舉輸家而言，比較多的人屬於民主批評者；其次是民主反對者，只有很少的人屬於民主支持者。對選舉贏家而言，也是有比較多的人屬於民主批評者，但比例上少很多；其次是民主支持者。在控制其它因素下，仍然發現選舉的輸家與贏家，是解釋不同的民主支持類型最重要的因素。此外，台灣社會對民主體制的表現反應出高度的不滿，這與目前西方國家的研究發現很類似，但批判性公民的出現是民主鞏固與深化不可或缺的正面力量。然而，比較令人憂心的發現是，對國家整體經濟情況的評價，與對民主支持的態度之間，具有微弱的相關性。這種微弱的相關，日後是否會因台灣經濟持續的惡化而被強化，值得我們後續的觀察與分析。

關鍵字

選舉輸家 ； 民主鞏固 ； 民主支持 ； 民主欲求度 ； 民主適合度

並列摘要

Democratic systems contain the inherent weakness that collective decision making through the ballot box can itself create tension by dividing the electorate into winners and losers and creating a conflict of interests between these two groups. Amongst the losers, who are forced to accept unfavorable electoral results and the democratic procedures which follow, support for the system may consequently be low and unstable, meaning that the success and persistence of any democracy is based not on the success of the winners, but rather on the self-restraint of the losers. This paper creates a measure of support for democracy in Taiwanese society by looking at temporary democratic commitments and evaluation of ruling party performance, in order to investigate the differences between the winning and losing groups. The results show that, with other variables remaining constant, election results strongly influence support for democracy in Taiwanese society. Amongst the losers, very few can be considered supporters of democracy, and most are critical. Amongst the winners, there are also many who are critical; however, a far greater proportion, are supportive of, or submissive to, democracy. Citizens' needs and criticisms of democracy are an essential element to democratic consolidation. A further disconcerting finding is that the worsening state of the national economy may be eroding support for democracy in Taiwan. Whether the factors identified in this paper will contribute to the weakening or otherwise of Taiwanese democracy is certainly a question worth further research and analysis.

並列關鍵字

election loser ； support for democracy ； democratic consolidation ； desirability of democracy ； suitability of democracy

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