Land Policy and Peculiarities of Political Institution Formation and Functioning in Rural Taiwan

The article analyzes the process of political institution formation and interaction in rural Taiwan, landowning system reform and its institutionalization. Economic achievements and modernized administrative system introduced by the Japanese in rural Taiwan deepened the social stratification, thus, the influential class of landowners emerged. The common interests of old land aristocracy and its rivals turned them into the only powerful group in the Taiwanese countryside. The Japanese authorities provoked the formation of political institutions – local associations of landowners and land tenants. Guomindang economic reorganization and the land reform demanded simultaneous political transformations and establishment of administrative political institutions in Taiwan. The local electoral system limited the land aristocracy’s domination as a political power which has thenceforth proceeded from a candidate’s popularity. That period is characterized by the highest degree of factional wars between the land aristocracy and the criminals during the elections. Political changes have begun together with the political system modernization in 1959. The direct voting by villagers basically excluded clan nepotism. The farmers found themselves in their new capacity as a meaningful political element and local political leaders worked directly with their electorate. On the other hand, penetration of political factions caused the possibility to buy votes. The local election procedure became more competitive. Economic and political functions simultaneously performed by the established agricultural institutions (a farm corporation and a political faction are much the same) are a unique situation for Taiwan. Factionalism still remains a common characteristic of Taiwanese politics

Development economics · Economic growth · Economic system · Economics · Geography · Institution · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Sociology · China's Socioeconomic Reforms and Governance · Law