Room for Improvement

This blog entry focuses on "RIghts to Recognition: Minority/ Indigenous Politics in the Emerging Taiwanese Nationalism," an article written by Kun-hui Ku. Ku examines "the changing minority/indigenous politics in the emerging Taiwanese nationalism of the past two decades," in her work (Ku, P. 99). She specifically talks about the aboriginal rights movement and the issues surrounding it. In Taiwan, indigenous groups have been "demanding" that the "government grant… (them) their basic human rights and status as a distinct group" (Ku, P. 100).  To go along with this conundrum, Ku talks about concepts such as the "politics of recognition." She reveals the question that often arises when collectives are pleading for their rights, which is, how do the rights of a group, compare to individual rights? Liberalism often favours the individual and with Taiwan adopting more and more democratic/ liberal systems of functioning, it would seam as if collective, aboriginal rights, may not be simple to attain. However, democratization ended up benefiting the indigenous groups and allowed the movement to effectively take shape. Ku talks about the movement involving people who consider themselves to be aborigines. This population of people in Taiwan is dwindling and in recent times, is not a group most Taiwanese want to be associated with. WIth regards to the aboriginal rights movement, the association with aborigines is positive. One of the organizations within the movement adopted the term "aborigine" as its name. According to Ku, this gave the "movement a stronger voice" (Ku, P. 103).  This is an interesting perspective, in other examples of fieldwork, it has been revealed that the Taiwanese are almost ashamed of their aborigine past. However, during the movement of indigenous groups, "the term aborigines gained increasing popularity" (Ku, P. 104).  The movement is not limited to local Taiwanese matters such as this one. Ku makes it clear that aboriginal groups are "actively involved on a global level" (Ku, P. 105). To go along with this, the "changing political climate" constantly occurring within Taiwan, creates an interesting environment for activists. 

It seems as if interesting cases of activism are embedded in Taiwan's cultural tapestry. The story of the aboriginal rights movement is a stimulating one, which Ku tells in her article. The desire for effecting change does not end there for Taiwan. Today, the Sunflower Student Movement, carries along with it,  a new example of fascinating activism to add to Taiwan's history. It is said that "116, 000 people attended the rally that packed streets leading from the Presidential Office" (retrieved from http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201403310016.aspx). An article on the Focus Taiwan News Channel website claims that this is "one of the biggest student movements Taiwan has ever seen" (retrieved from http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201403310016.aspx). Ku's article talks deeply about the aboriginal rights movement and now Taiwan has another display of activism on their hands. These to example show Taiwan to be a small nation, which is constantly in a state of lively tension. Whether it a struggle to maintain an identity separate from China's, an aboriginal battle for rights, or the recent student movement, it seams as if the Taiwanese people are always striving for something better. Even though it is a small nation, Taiwan is never satisfied or complacent, there is always room for improvement and the Taiwanese people are certainly looking to improve their country. 

Works Cited

"Activist profiles: the leaders of the Sunflower Student Movement." (2014). Focus Taiwan News Channel. Retrieved from http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201403310016.aspx.

Ku, Kun-hui. 2005. “Rights to Recognition: Minority/Indigenous Politics in the Emerging 

Taiwanese Nationalism.” Social Analysis 49 (2): 99-121.