戰後臺灣社會出現的「nationalism」,應界定為「中華國家主義」、「臺灣民族主義」、「臺灣國家主義」及「國民主義」之間的鬥爭與起落。兩蔣時期,國民黨政府藉「中華國家主義」撐起被迫撤退的中華民國政權,反對運動者則先後推動「臺灣民族主義」和「臺灣國家主義」,作為反抗的動員基礎。李登輝繼位後,長期相互衝撞的「中華國家主義」和「臺灣國家主義」,終於因為自由化、民主化及本土化的交相激盪,在「中華民國=臺灣」的架構下匯流。然而,自民進黨擊敗國民黨取得執政權後,兩股力量卻出現越益白熱化的鬥爭,使臺灣社會深陷藍綠衝突的褊狹格局。所幸,臺灣民眾早已形成清楚的主體和整體意識,不僅驅策國、民兩黨將焦點導回全民的現實需求,更在2008年總統大選中充分展現自主力量,為馬英九執政的新階段開啟「國民主義」的進程。
Nationalism, which emerges in postwar Taiwan, should be defined as the struggles between “ zhong hua guo jia zhu yi ”, “ tai wan min zu zhu yi ”, “ tai wan guo jia zhu yi ”, and “ guo min zhu yi ”. During the years when Chiang Kai-shek and Chiang Ching-kuo were in power, KMT government applied “ zhong hua guo jia zhu yi ” in order to maintain the R.O.C. as an independent state. At the same time, those who devoted themselves to political opposition activities constructed “ tai wan min zu zhu yi ” and “ tai wan guo jia zhu yi ” to mobilize Taiwanese people to stand against the KMT government. When Lee Teng-hui came into power, “zhong hua guo jia zhu yi ” and “ tai wan guo jia zhu yi ” finally converge in the framework of “ R.O.C.=Taiwan ” under the influence of “ Liberalization ”, “ Democratization ” and “ Localization ”. However, after DPP replaced KMT to become the governing party, both of them launched even serverer cut-throat conflict between these two forces. Fortunately, the Taiwanese have already developed definite national identity. And the strong feeling of “ Taiwan-oriented consciousness ” not only urged the KMT and DPP to consider people’s real needs more seriously, but also carved out the new path of “ guo min zhu yi ”.