LIBERTY SQUARE REVISITED: THE WILD LILY MOVEMENT AND TAIWAN’S DEMOCRATIC CRISIS

Written by Vasja Hafner. This article argues that the Wild Lily Movement not only created repertoires that have been repeatedly reused in subsequent movements, using occupation of public space as the primary way to articulate democratic legitimacy, but also helped create a structural gap in the constitutional architecture. The same protest repertoire is now being used to contest the institutional order.

Beyond Exclusion: Countering Taiwan’s Identity Subordination in Non-State Institutions

Written by Nilufer Mistry Sheasby. This article examines how non-state institutions undermine Taiwan’s identity by mandating subordinating terminology in ostensibly apolitical settings. It argues that traditional diplomatic responses are insufficient and proposes a multi-faceted playbook: coordinating government and private actors to challenge naming decisions, mobilising stakeholder pressure, and mitigating harm when reversal remains impossible.

A Taiwan School of Music? Rethinking Identity, Politics, and Aesthetics

Written by Min-Erh Wang. This article examines the conceptualisation of a “Taiwan School of Music” within contemporary musicology. Exploring the intersection of music, postcolonial agency, and identity, the author critiques state-driven cultural hegemony while advocating for a bottom-up, pluralistic framework. Using strategic essentialism, the project offers an open acoustic space to express Taiwan’s distinct democratic identity.

From compassion to liberation: Animal advocacy, veganism, and sustainability in Taiwan 

Written by Gina Song Lopez. This article explores the rise of Taiwan’s modern vegan movement, examining its transition from traditional religious vegetarianism to a youth-driven advocacy centered on animal ethics, climate action, and identity. Through NGOs, digital platforms, and policy engagement, local advocates are redefining meatless diets while shaping Taiwan’s dynamic plant-based foodscape and advancing national sustainability goals on the global stage.

How to Explain Cross-strait Relations

Written by Frédéric Krumbein. This article introduces a five-theory framework to analyse cross-strait relations. By evaluating historical decisions, economic integration, identity shifts, and security dynamics, the author provides a comprehensive analytical toolkit to map future trajectories for Taiwan-China relations across varying degrees of political salience.

From ‘Compatriots’ to Coercion: How Cross-Strait Relations Have Changed

Written by Simona A. Grano. The author explores the shifting dynamics of cross-Strait relations, tracing Beijing’s strategy from historical “letters to compatriots” to modern grey-zone coercion. She highlights how China’s unification rhetoric increasingly clashes with Taiwan’s democratic identity, creating an environment where political messaging, military posture, and strategic coercion closely align.

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