Taiwan

Abstract

Despite contemporary understandings of the term “governance” in East Asia being highly influenced by modern Western discourses and practices, the role of traditional Chinese discourses, such as “to rule by virtue”, are under-explored vis-à-vis the idea of self-regulation and self-reflection in bodies’ governance in the region. The cultural backdrop of Taiwan reveals a unique blend of Han Chinese, Japanese, European, American, and Taiwan’s own aboriginal cultures, which reflects the understanding and practice of local cultural governance. This chapter explores cultural governance in the Confucian context, and principles of good governance in Taiwan through a literature review and qualitative interviews and questionnaires involving seasoned practitioners from seventeen arts and culture organizations in Taipei, the capital city of Taiwan. An analysis of these interviews yields the participants’ common interest in pursuing the idea of good cultural governance adhering to the principles of decentralization and transparency. Freedom of speech, assembly, and expression are well-established strengths of the arts and cultural sectors in Taiwan, where the importance of cultural democracy and autonomy is highly valued. Taiwan’s arts and cultural sectors are still experimenting with and practicing the possibility of good cultural governance. The research project adds nuance to our understanding of cultural governance in the current local context and application. This study will contribute to future research on the dimensions and principles of good governance for cultural organizations from an East Asian perspective.