Abstract
This research aims at a better understanding of the democratization of Taiwan, trying to depict the non-elite participants in the process of democratization. The research questions are: Who are they and why did they join the movement? What role did they play in the process of democratization? At last, through their stories, can we find any uniqueness in the process of democratization of Taiwan? The research method of this study are textual analysis and in-depth interviews, and the findings are as below, Firstly, the non-elite participants could make “local spaces”, which were different form the network of the elites discourses like the elite participants are in the movement. Rather, they participate with “action.” With firm attitude and substantial action, the movement was greatly strengthened. Among all forms of resistance, the non-elites were in favor of taking on the street, which is the most direct way they could.resist the KMT government. On the contrary to the former studies that focus on discourses and elites, which were only one side of the story, this study depict the importance of the role of non-elites in the process of liberalization. Finally, this research also depicts the way the non-elites come to interpret the whole movement, which is very different from that of the elitesThey believed the goal of movement was the independency of Taiwan instead of, democratization, it was also the reason they joined the movement. On the contrary, the elitebelieved democratization was the goal. The two different actors, with contrast dreams in mind, came together and realized the democratization of Taiwan. While made one’s dream come true, the irony of history turned that of the other’s down.