Written by Michael Mo. This article explores the divergent prospect of polarisation of the Sunflower and Umbrella activists in the aftermath of the Movements. While the electoral system in Taiwan forced activists to abandon small parties and shift towards the main parties, Hong Kong’s system before the overhaul in 2021 encouraged small parties to compete.
Written by Leon Kunz. The Sunflower Movement is a stark contrast to the insurrection of the January 6 storming of the US Capitol. This article makes this case by comparing through the structural sphere, ideational-interpretative sphere and performative sphere. The Sunflower Movement involved diverse participants, aimed to protect democracy and was non-violent.
Written by Klavier Wang. This article focuses on the movement-place making, a process of transforming physical spaces into vibrant and inclusive environments that foster community engagement and identity, of the Sunflower and Umbrella Movement. It sheds light on an important legacy of the two movements, the development and strengthening of their civil societies.
Written by Jackson Yeh. This article reviews the influential legacies of the Sunflower Movement to Taiwan politically and its state-society relations, including an institutionalised oversight mechanism of future cross-Strait deals. Nevertheless, the article contends that the journey of the Sunflower Movement against the China factors remains unfinished.
Written by Brian Hioe. The geopolitical fates diverged significantly in the past decade since the Sunflower and Umbrella Movements broke out ten years ago. Nevertheless, this article analyses the political interactions between Hong Kong and Taiwan in terms of movement activists and electoral politics. The author argues that these exchanges are expected to continue.
Written by Ming-sho Ho. This article examines the commemorative events held to mark the tenth anniversary of the Sunflower Movement in March 2024. It highlights the significance of these events to reassert the core values and demands, give voice to the participants and establish the movement’s contemporary relevance.
Written by Adrian Chiu. This special issue presents a brilliant line-up of scholars and observers of the two movements which provides insights and perspectives to analyse and reflect on the tenth anniversary of the Sunflower and Umbrella Movements. This introductory piece briefly sets the scene for their excellent analysis by reviewing some of the significant political changes both internationally and domestically.
Written by Dafydd Fell. It could be argued that the changing nature of the DPP contributed to it following through on key civil society demands, such as enhancing LGBT rights and moving towards a nuclear-free homeland. While the original goal for a new alternative party has not been fully realised, perhaps the greatest party system legacy of the Sunflower Movement lies in the changing nature of the DPP.
Written by Ren-Wei Chang. In short, the sunflower movement did not happen randomly. It resulted from decades and years of student collaboration, network building, and growing civil society. This was the ‘soil’ that let the sunflowers grow. If we hope to see another protest like the sunflower movement in the future, we need to ensure that we maintain the soil and keep it fertile for new growth. After all, the erosion of democracy by totalitarianism often begins with a fragile civil society. We cannot let the soil go barren.
Written by Ming-Sho Ho. But what about the Sunflower generation activists, who are mostly in their late twenties and early thirties currently? The Wild Lily generation politicians, such as Lin Chia-lung (former Minister of Transportation and Communications, 58yr.), Chen Chi-Mai (Kaohsiung City Mayor, 57 yr.) and Cheng Wen-tsan (Taoyuan City Major, 54yr.) are among promising successors to President Tsai Ing-wen. Are the younger ex-Sunflower activists poised to replicate the same pattern?
Written by Brian Hioe. Certainly, some of the discursive effects of the Sunflower Movement have faded, even if they were always hard to quantify. However, it is a harder question as to whether the direct influence of the movement has faded to the extent that the present would be seen as post-Sunflower. This perhaps will only become clearer after future anniversaries.
Written By Brian Hioe. The 2014 Sunflower Movement, over seven years ago, was a seminal moment for many Taiwanese young people. Apart from marking a generational coming of age, the movement also led to the entrance of many young people into politics and saw the emergence of many new organisations.
Taiwan Insight 