Fang-Long Shih

Dr. Fang-Long Shih is a Research Fellow at the London School of Economics (LSE) Asia Research Centre, serving in that capacity since 2003. In addition, she is Co-Director of the LSE Taiwan Research Programme, a position she has held since 2009. Dr. Shih is also the editor of the journal Taiwan in Comparative Perspective. Her research contextualizes processes of modernity and globalization in Taiwan with a special interest in culture and religion to discuss various social-scientific issues, such as human rights, democracy and justice.

Tel. +44 (0) 20 7955 6439

E-Mail: F.Shih@lse.ac.uk

Website: http://www2.lse.ac.uk/asiaResearchCentre/countries/taiwan/taiwanProgramme/

This individual is a guest contributor for mei.edu, and is not affiliated with The Middle East Institute.

Publications

Mar 4, 2014

Fang-Long Shih

Transition to Democracy at the Expense of Justice: The 2-28 Incident and White Terror in Taiwan

Mar 4, 2014

Fang-Long Shih

This paper discusses attempts at reconciliation that followed Taiwan’s transition to democracy after four decades (1947–1987) of political repression in which new settlers from the Chinese mainland, known as waishengren (provincial outsiders), suppressed a native population, known as benshengren (provincial natives), that had formerly experienced 50 years (1895–1945) of Japanese colonial rule. As a case study, I draw on field research undertaken between 2004 and 2006 in the village of Luku. I ask to what extent Taiwan has redressed the defining massacre that occurred on February 28, 1947, known as the 2-28 Incident, and the repression that followed, known as the White Terror (1949–1986). To what extent can Taiwan be sure that state terror will not recur? Further, what lessons are there for the “Arab Spring?”

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Fang-Long Shih

Transition to Democracy at the Expense of Justice: The 2-28 Incident and White Terror in Taiwan