A Fine Line

A Fine Line This article was written by Pat Gao and published by the Taiwan Review on September 1, 2005. It is the first of two interesting articles that explore the nature of Taiwan's think tanks.

"Think tanks, or non-profit public-policy research organizations, not only supply candidates for important government positions, but in a broader political context they also reflect Taiwan's democratic development," this article begins. It goes on to argue that in Taiwan, the boundaries between government and policy research foundations are often blurred. The nation's domestic political situation, instead of specific international events, generates the need for policy-making discussions and consultations.

Taiwan's major think tanks used to be exclusively government-funded. But after the 1987 abolition of marshal law, and particularly during the 1990s, many conglomerate-funded think tanks were established. Several heavyweight leaders and researchers from these think tanks later became major players in Taiwan's political and economic arenas.

The dilemma faced by think tanks in Taiwan - and perhaps in other countries as well - is that they need to retain enough autonomy to conduct objective studies and thereby win credibility. Yet, because think tanks exist to cultivate their influence on the policy-making process, they cannot afford to be completely detached from the government.

In the case of Taiwan, it is considered relatively difficult for an intellectual to act and think free of political considerations. The result is that competing voices in different think tanks often reflect the political ambitions and prejudices of their members.

Another problem is that some think tanks in Taiwan have obvious party affiliations. Others accept subsidies or research contracts from the government. The consequence is that the research scopes of these think tanks often become limited.

Finally, the article points out that in other countries, discussions about public policy perspectives usually take place between capitalist and socialist traditions. However, in Taiwan, socialism is often linked to the Chinese Communists and their ideology and therefore seriously discouraged in all arenas. "What has replaced this absence of socialism is a heated debate about [Taiwan's] national identity," the article concludes.