Bruce Jacobs Smart Talk

On March 22, the East Asia Institute (EAI) hosted the 46th Smart Talk Forum, inviting Professor Emeritus Bruce Jacobs from Monash University, Australia.

Professor Jacobs, who researches Chinese politics, Taiwan issues, and Asian democracy, noted the similarities in the democratization histories of South Korea and Taiwan, and expressed hope that analyzing the experiences of these two democratic nations would lead to a better understanding of the growth and process of democracy in Asia. In particular, comparing the Gwangju Uprising and the Kaohsiung Incident ('Formosa Incident'), which can be considered representative mass democratization movements in South Korea and Taiwan respectively, is a crucial method for elucidating the similarities and differences between the two democracies. Furthermore, the historical experiences of both countries are important. While both nations share the experience of Japanese colonial rule, given the contrasting perceptions of Japan held by their respective populations today, it is necessary to trace how colonial experiences have differentially influenced subsequent democratic development and processes. Other significant factors influencing the democratization processes in South Korea and Taiwan included post-colonial experiences with universal suffrage, political pressure from the United States, external influences such as the fall of the Marcos dictatorship in the Philippines, geopolitical location, and the Cold War standoff. Consequently, differences emerged between South Korea and Taiwan in various aspects, including the intensity of violence during democratization, the establishment of democratic governments and the composition of ruling elites, and the extent to which leaders of the democratization movements entered democratic governments. Participants shared information and opinions regarding South Korea's historical experiences and democratization process, distinct from Taiwan's, and reached a shared understanding of the future challenges for the development of democracy in Asia.

Speaker

Professor Emeritus Bruce Jacobs, Monash University, Australia