Transition to democracy at the expense of justice: the 2-28 Incident and White Terror in Taiwan

Shih, Fang-Long (2014) Transition to democracy at the expense of justice: the 2-28 Incident and White Terror in Taiwan. Pathways to transitional justice in the Arab world — reflections on the Asia Pacific experience. Middle East Institute, Washington, USA.

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Abstract

This paper discusses attempts at reconciliation that followed Taiwan’s transition to democracy after four decades (1947–1987) of political repression in which new settlers from the Chinese mainland, known as waishengren (provincial outsiders), suppressed a native population, known as benshengren (provincial natives), that had formerly experienced 50 years (1895–1945) of Japanese colonial rule. As a case study, I draw on field research undertaken between 2004 and 2006 in the village of Luku. I ask to what extent Taiwan has redressed the defining massacre that occurred on February 28, 1947, known as the 2-28 Incident, and the repression that followed, known as the White Terror (1949–1986). To what extent can Taiwan be sure that state terror will not recur? Further, what lessons are there for the “Arab Spring?”

Item Type:	Monograph (Report)
Official URL:	http://www.mei.edu/
Additional Information:	© 2014 Middle East Institute
Divisions:	Asia Centre
Subjects:	J Political Science > JQ Political institutions Asia
Date Deposited:	04 Sep 2014 08:25
Last Modified:	15 Sep 2023 22:24
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/59345

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