Alex Liu
Class of 2025Sacramento, CA
About
Hello! I'm Alex, and I am creating a literature review focused on the role of third parties in Taiwanese politics. As a Taiwanese-American, I have been fascinated in understanding how Taiwan's government differs from the United States'-- and this project has given me the perfect opportunity to discover that. I was a live presenter at the 2024 Polygence Symposium and am seeking publication in a peer-reviewed journal.Projects
- "The TPP and Ko Wen-je: What the Rise of the Taiwan People’s Party Means for Taiwan and Third Parties" with mentor Hamzah (Oct. 29, 2024)
Alex's Symposium Presentation
Project Portfolio
The TPP and Ko Wen-je: What the Rise of the Taiwan People’s Party Means for Taiwan and Third Parties
Started Sept. 4, 2024
Abstract or project description
The Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), a third party in Taiwan, enjoyed groundbreaking victories in the 2024 Taiwanese elections; its seating in the legislative elections made it the first third party ever to hold the deciding votes in Taiwan’s legislature. This is due to the failure of Taiwan’s two major parties, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and Kuomintang (KMT) to win a majority of seats in the legislature. However, Taiwanese third parties have historically never been able to maintain this level of political influence. It is uncertain whether the TPP can maintain the electorate’s support in the long term, develop leaders and infrastructure to thrive beyond its founder, and successfully adapt from campaigning to governing. This research paper explains the potential future of the TPP as a politically influential third party by investigating the values and challenges facing the TPP. It explains how the Taiwanese electoral system allows for the emergence of third parties, provides background on the DPP and KMT, gives an overview of the TPP’s founder and chairman’s (Ko Wen-je’s) values and political career, and clarifies how the TPP and Ko are inextricably linked. This paper draws on a compilation of secondary scholarly research and primary data on Taiwanese politics. Considering the recent leave of absence and multiple detainments of Ko by Taiwanese authorities, this paper concludes that the TPP will likely share the outcomes of other third parties, losing the public’s support and subsequently political power.