Political Socialization and the Cultivation of Democratic Citizens in Taiwan: A Comparative Study of the Political Attitudes and Values of Junior and Senior High, Junior College, and College Students

Abstract

Whether democracy can be consolidated in a newly democratized country depends on whether its citizens respect democracy. Through a study of political socialization in Taiwan, this paper will examine whether the political attitudes and values of Taiwan students can cope with the need of a democratic system and thus whether Taiwan`s democratization can be further enhanced.\nBased on survey data gathered from two research projects commissioned in 1993 and 1997 by the National Science Council on the political socialization of Taiwan students, this paper analyzes their attitudes and values on fourteen predictive variables on democracy to see whether they possess the qualifications for democratic citizenship.\nOur study indicates that political socialization in Taiwan, especially via the educational process, should help enhance those attributes required of a good ”subject,” including a strong national consciousness, the feeling of nationhood, and fulfillment of civic duties. More importantly, socialization is also helping them to possess such attributes required of a good ”citizen” as civic knowledge, political efficacy, participation ability, and political identity achievement. Therefore, the cultivation of qualified democratic citizens is still important for the consolidation of Taiwan`s democratization.