Comparing Polarizing Issues in Asian and African Democracies: Voter Confidence, Electoral Reform, and Polarization in Taiwan and Kenya

Dennis L. C. Weng ； Catherine Musuva

《Taiwan Journal of Democracy》 18卷1期 (2022/07) Pp. 81-105

摘要

Literature shows that political polarization has played a role in driving political behavior. An inclusive and diverse society can encourage political pluralism and positively affect economic growth and democratization. Conversely, a high level of ethnic diversity and ideological division can exacerbate intensive polarization, as each subgroup will pursue its political interests if there is no effective reconciliation mechanism. This essay provides a unique comparison between Taiwan and Kenya, two young democracies in which social and political cleavages significantly intensify polarization. Both countries experience political polarization, but the causes are different. In Taiwan, political-ideological differences seem unresolvable, whereas in Kenya, polarization is associated with ethnic identity. Yet, the two seemingly unrelated countries have one thing in common: a promise that more trustworthy elections might potentially unify their divided societies. The essay sheds light on this relationship using data from the World Values Survey (WVS), conducted by the Center for East Asia Democratic Studies at National Taiwan University in Taiwan, and from Afrobarometer. The purpose is to establish to what extent electoral reform might help converge different perspectives and thus reduce polarization.

關鍵字

Democracy ； electoral reform ； Kenya ； political polarization ； Taiwan

參考文獻

Francis Fukuyama, The End of History and the Last Man (New York: Avon Books, 1993).

Larry Diamond, “Facing Up to the Democratic Recession,” Journal of Democracy 26, no. 1 (2015): 141-155.

Steven Levitsky and Lucan Way, “The Myth of Democratic Recession,” Journal of Democracy 26, no. 1 (2015): 45-58.

Roberto S. Foa and Yascha Mounk, “The Danger of Deconsolidation: The Democratic Disconnect,” Journal of Democracy 27, no. 3 (2016): 5-17.

Francis Fukuyama, “Why Is Democracy Performing So Poorly?” Journal of Democracy 26, no. 1 (2015): 11-20