Taiwan: Hyper-democracy

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BBC Radio 4 - Taiwan: Hyper-democracy

Can Taiwan's hyper-democracy provide lessons for the world's older democracies?

The BBC's former Taiwan correspondent Cindy Sui examines Taiwan's much heralded 'hyper-democracy' and asks if its use of digital technology is the future for political engagement.

Taiwan is one of the world's youngest democracies.  The first fully democratic presidential election was held as recently as 1996. But it's now being heralded as a place where digital technology is giving citizens a sense of direct engagement with political systems and law creation. They have a Minister of Digital Affairs, Audrey Tang, who has brought his computer software programming expertise learned in Silicon Valley to bear on the way in which ideas, petitions and suggested law reforms can be promoted by way of a website which boasts millions of users.
The BBC's former Taiwan Correspondent Cindy Sui revisits the Island to try and measure the success of the website called 'Join' at a time when Taiwan faces very direct international pressures. But she also explores more established systems of local democracy, including the system of community chiefs or Li Zhangs and the 24 hour hotlines with their promise of a speedy response to any inquiry or report about issues closer to home.  
Western democracies have faced harsh criticism in recent years about sections of their populations feeling that their voices aren't being heard.  Does Taiwan have lessons for its more established Democratic colleagues, and if it does, are they in the field of high tech or grass roots representation?

Producer:  Tom Alban

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