On Political Culture

Another minister has fallen, and calling it a fall is hardly an exaggeration. After enduring over a month of political crossfire in the Legislative Yuan, Minister Tsung finally decided to step down from her position. Reactions to this decision have ranged from mockery to support; however, regardless of the stance, Minister Tsung made it abundantly clear in her resignation statement that what defeated her was not a lack of scholarship or capability, but rather Taiwan's "political culture." Hearing this emphasis from a minister who speaks English more fluently than Chinese sounds particularly jarring, yet it serves as a genuine reminder that even though Taiwan prides itself on having ascended into the ranks of democratic nations, it indeed possesses a political culture that falls rather short of American standards.

Setting aside the debate over whether Eastern societies possess so-called "Asian values" regarding the concepts of democracy and freedom, one must inevitably concede that Taiwan's political culture is hardly sophisticated. Calling it unsophisticated is by no means an intentional disparagement of any particular politician, because the nutrients that nourish political culture ultimately derive from the output of the broader social culture. Even if it is no higher than the average cultural level, it can hardly be any lower; it merely projects the average standard of our entire societal culture. Therefore, when our society indulges in opportunism, we cannot blame opportunistic politicians for becoming the mainstream in the political arena; when petty theft, cheating, and fraud are rationalized as ways of survival, we cannot blame lies and scandals for shrouding the political horizon; when the persuasive power of flashy sensory stimulation surpasses sincerity and steadfastness, we cannot blame the humiliating spectacles in parliamentary forums from becoming a necessary evil in the Legislative Yuan... All of this is simply business as usual.

How do we change this? We must return to the old clichés of social movements: critique and more critique, reform and more reform, education and more education, all while hoping that everything can start anew. Yet, if we could indulge in the modest hope that the standards of our politicians might lead society just a little bit, that their culture might progress just a little bit (not the kind used merely for political show), and that their scholarship might be just a little bit richer, might that allow us to move forward just a bit faster? When officials with scholarship and capability are forced to step down, what kind of talent is left behind? When a minister deeply influenced by Western culture fundamentally clashes with our political culture, what kind of constitution is actually suited to remain in this bloody political battlefield stripped of dignity? The people of Taiwan ought to ponder these questions. Can politicians not ponder them a bit more, and hold higher expectations for themselves?

※ Published in: Taiwan Daily