The rise of conservatism and the challenges for liberalism in two Asian economies

Current global trends indicate that conservatism is gaining momentum over liberalism. Trump-led conservatism in the US and Brexit in the UK, as well as similar shifts towards protectionism in France and Germany, are evidence of this.

Taiwan and South Korea are both trade-oriented economic giants in Asia. Despite geographic proximity, however, the two seem to be heading in different directions in their political ideology.

Taiwan’s election in November resulted in an overwhelming victory for the conservative Kuomintang party (KMT) against the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). The DPP’s crushing defeat was worsened by the election result in Kaohsiung, the second largest city in Taiwan and one not expected to vote for the KMT in a majority. In the wake of the result, Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen announced her resignation as head of the DPP.

Please click here to read the full ‘Taiwan and South Korea head in different directions’ article in the APPS Policy Forum, written by Griffith Asia Institute member, Dr Byung-Seong Min.