Democratization and the Effectiveness of Local Action: Perceptions of Local Taiwanese Leaders, 1993 and 2001

Abstract

This paper examines the relationship between democracy and effectiveness. This survey of the local elite in Taiwan in two separate periods, 1993 and 2001, defines the term “effectiveness” as the local elites’ evaluation of local effectiveness in dealing with serious problems facing the locality. After reviewing related theories and hypotheses and identifying various factors that might affect effectiveness, the paper divides these variables into two categories: factors both directly and indirectly related to democratization. Empirical testing finds that the local elite in Taiwan actually held a more positive evaluation of local effectiveness in the second wave than they did in the first. Through cross-analyses of each factor increases in the local elites` positive evaluation of local effectiveness are found to be unrelated to factors of the first category. Among factors of the second category, only the variables of local elite position and self-evaluation of their influence are strongly related to local elites` evaluation of local effectiveness. This finding supports the hypothesis of this study. democracy and effectiveness are positively related.