30 Years of Democracy: How Taiwan Has Changed Since 1996

30 Years of Democracy
How Taiwan Has Changed Since 1996

Panel Discussion | Live Podcast Recording | Audience Q&A

In March 1996, Taiwanese voters went to the polls to choose their president directly for the first time.

Thirty years later, Taiwan is a very different place.

This live panel discussion looks back at what has changed since 1996, not only in politics, but in everyday life. How has Taiwan changed socially and economically? How has the media changed? What happened to Taiwan’s identity during those three decades? And what do people who actually lived through the period remember differently from the history we tell about it now?

We’ll also talk about what hasn’t changed as much as we might think.

A conversation, not a lecture

The main discussion will be 🛑 recorded LIVE for Formosa Files, with journalists, writers and longtime Taiwan residents talking about the changes they have witnessed over the past 30 years.

The recorded discussion will run for approximately 45 minutes, followed by questions and comments from the audience.

This is meant to be a discussion, so disagreement is welcome.

Come early, have a drink, meet some people and stay afterward if you want to continue the conversation.

The Panel

Our panel brings together people with backgrounds in journalism, history and commentary on Taiwan.

What we’ll talk about

Taiwan in 1996 and Taiwan today are sometimes treated as two completely different worlds. We want to look at what actually changed during those 30 years.

Politics and democracy, certainly. But also media, business, culture, identity, relations with China and the way Taiwan sees itself and is seen by the rest of the world.

And because this is happening in Kaohsiung, we’ll also ask whether southern Taiwan experienced those changes differently from Taipei.

Schedule

The Venue

Friday, September 18
6:00–10:00 PM
Langauge: English
Admission is free.

About the event

This event is organized by the American Chamber of Commerce in Kaohsiung, Formosa Files and Kaohsiung Times, with assistance from Second Space.

It is the first in what we hope will become a series of public discussions in Kaohsiung about Taiwan, its history and the issues affecting it today.

You don’t need to be an expert on Taiwanese politics or history. If you have lived through some of these changes, have questions about them, or simply want to hear people argue about what the last 30 years actually meant, come join us.