9. Taiwan, South Korea, and the Philippines: Asian Values, Political Parties and Democratic Support

This chapter examines three democracies that adhere to traditional Asian culture and have experienced similar political transitions from authoritarianism under their respective ruling parties at approximately the same time. The study focuses on the mutual accommodation mechanism between Asian cuture and political parties as a factor influencing support for democratic regimes. The study first examines the problem Asian parties encouter when applying democratic ideas to non-Western polities, and then assesses to what extent and in what manner Asian culture influences the function of political parties in these three young democracies. Following a review of political parties and party system in the three democracies, this chapter then focuses on core features of Asian culture, chiefly family values and their relationship with political parties. The emprical section looks at factors associated with support for democratic regimes and explainins the mutual accommodation mechanism between culture and political parties in the three cases.