公民投票在台灣與國家認同的歷史背景息息相關。從1940年代晚期,廖文毅在日本建立流亡政府,呼籲進行決定台灣是否應託管予聯合國的公投,1980年代社會運動及社區運動的興起造就地方型態的公民投票。至2000年民主進步黨上台執政,公民投票倡議者對於舉行全國性核四公投更是重新燃起希望。公民投票法終於在2003年11月27日經立法院三讀通過,可說是台灣民主深化的歷史性一步,回復了人民在憲法上應有的創制與複決權利。陳水扁總統便根據公投法第十七條於2004年3月20日總統大選日同時舉辦防禦性公投。此「和平公投」的政治問題除了從內部因素,政黨競爭的軸線來檢視外,也無法抽離國際因素,而其中最關鍵的是公民投票在美中台關係起的作用及變化;「和平公投」已從立法層次演變到國家安全的層次而面臨高度國際壓力的權衡。除了國內、國外兩層影響因素外,更有陳水扁總統個人決策過程(決策者的個人信念與意志)的第三層因素。 本研究論文可說是目前國內最新、最完整研究台灣公民投票緣起脈絡、發展困境與經驗的論文,也是唯一針對「和平公投」專題進行深入研究其動機、價值、決策過程、國內外影響因素及策略的論文。
Issues on referendum concern much the history of the national identity in Taiwan. In the late 1940’s, the exiled government of Liao Wun-yi in Japan called for having a referendum to decide whether Taiwan should be entrusted to the United Nations or not. The booming of social movements and community movements on the island in 1980’s led to establishment of local referendums. It came again to the enthusiastic promoters of referendum that President Chen should hold a national referendum on the issue of the 4th nuclear power plant as soon as Democratic Progressive Party won the Presidential election in the year of 2000. The Referendum Act, which gives people the rights of initiative and referendum was finally passed by the legislature on November 27, 2003 and becomes a milestone in the Taiwanese democratic development. President Chen Shui-bian declared his government would hold a preventive referendum under the 17th article of the Referendum Act along with the Presidential election in 2004. The resulting political controversy of this so-called “Peace Referendum” should be examined not only in views of domestic factors and competition among political parties, but also in views of international factors. And the influence that this referendum has had on the Taipei-Washington-Beijing relations is considered the key among them. The perspective of “Peace Referendum” is in the legislative level as well as in national security level when facing international pressure. In addition to domestic and foreign factors, President Chen’s personal will and belief asserted in the decision-making process is also considered, in the case of “Peace Referendum,” as the third factor. This thesis is the latest and the most throughout one to research for the unique history, development and experience of Taiwan’s pursuit for the establishment of referendum, and it is also the only in-depth study on the issues of “Peace Referendum” in respect of its motive, value, decision-making process, domestic and foreign influences, and strategy.