Choosing between Democracy and Authoritarianism: COVID-19 and Taiwan’s Democracy

• In Event: Exploring Political Dynamics in Taiwan: Finance, Media, and Democratic Support

Abstract

There have been numerous debates regarding the efficiency and efficacy of democratic and authoritarian regimes following the outbreak of COVID-19. However, not much attention has been given to how citizens evaluate political systems during crises. In this paper, I would like to examine whether citizens support democracy less based on how they evaluate the government's handling of the pandemic and their personal experiences during the pandemic. Using Wave VI of the Asian Barometer, I expect to find that citizens in Taiwan may still reject authoritarianism but have experienced a decline in support for democracy.

Author

• Yi-Tzu Lin, Tunghai University