The conference that forms the basis for this book was held in Taipei in 1989. With contributions by political figures from both the Kuomintang and the opposition Democratic Progressive Party, as well as leading scholars from Taiwan and the US, this book discusses the critical issues affecting the future of Taiwan. The book discusses Taiwan's economic achievements, its pathbreaking experiments with political reform, its unique patterns of political participation, its example as a fully modernized Chinese cultural community, its importance in the world trading system, and its key role in Pacific Basin international relations. It also discusses how these factors have made Taiwan a focus of interest for students of economic development, comparative politics and international relations.

This work looks at the first Chinese democracy in Taiwan and Taiwan's political transformation from an authoritarian regime based on martial law to a democracy based on a constitution created in mainland China· Ìt follows the Kuomintang's reform and the four patterns of political development·

... Chapt. 1: The difficulties and crisis of Taiwan's current constitutional politics Chapt. 2: The legitimacy of making a new constitution for Taiwan Chapt. 3: The features of a new constitution for Taiwan in the 21st century Chapt. 4: Lessons from other countries for drafting a new Taiwanese constitution.