Public Support of Free Speech Limitations in Taiwan: The Partisan Connection

• In Event: Public Opinion and Policy Formation in Taiwan

Abstract

What explains public support for free speech limitations in Taiwan? Taiwan maintains broad free speech protections, yet also maintains broad public insult laws that would seem to contrast with Western conceptions of free speech. Moreover, in the effort to combat misinformation, governments have an increasing interest in regulating some forms of speech and information. I argue that while the public may be broadly opposed to government restrictions limiting free speech, that the public views such restrictions through partisan lenses. Thus supporters of the ruling party may be less likely to be concerned that limitations would impact them, while opposition supporters fear such efforts will be used by the ruling party to silence criticism. Though a combination of existing data from the Taiwan Social Change Survey and AsianBarometer, along with original survey data, I find broad opposition to free speech limitations, however supporters of the ruling party consistently were more likely to support such limits, regardless of the party in power. Moreover, those who believed that inconsistent ideas bring chaos or who were indifferent about whether democracy was ideal were also more likely to support speech restrictions.

Author

• Timothy S. Rich, Western Kentucky University