Dissensions or unanimity: What does local mean? Taiwan Identity in 2015

Abstract

Taiwan’s predominant discourse in 2015 was civic nationalism, supported by mass Taiwanese pride in local cultural and linguistic heritage, and a distaste for hegemonic suppression of civil liberties. Ethno-nationalism, the counter discourse was a largely elite discourse supported by recognition from international communities and economic restructuring. Mass discourses often emphasize that elite discourses fail to address nuances in social stratification between occupations, class and generations and environmental irresponsibility in the process of economic restructuring. International relations and diplomacy was a key concern across the classes. Both discourses had reflected the urgent need for improvement, but the elite ones refered mainly to positive breakthroughs in economic industries and social welfare, while the mainstream mainly were apprehensive of current bilateral policies and labor/work conditions, and largely pessimistic.