英文摘要 |
Downsian theories are the representative theories derived from the intentional approach and rational choice model. Downs constructed two theories: the first is called the 'theory of sophisticated voting' ich is used to explain the electorate's voting behavior; the second is called the 'spatial theory of competition' which is used to explain the competitive strategies of political parties. Downs assumes that both voters and parties behave like an 'economic man.' The main purpose for a party to enter into electoral competition is to win the election and ruling position. The main competitive strategies of parties are the maneuvering along the political (ideological) spectrum. In a two-party system (or under two-party competition), Downs argues that the two main parties will both move toward the center of the spectrum because most voters are located in the middle, between the two parties. This is called 'centripetal competition' or the 'median voters theorem.' The main purpose of this paper is to review and verify this theorem.Research results of this paper find out that from the lifting of martial law (1987) to the first rotation of power in 2000, both two main parties had adopted 'centripetal competition' strategies and moved toward the 'center (middle) of the spectrum' which had confirmed the 'median voters theorem' and the 'spatial theory of competition.' However, from 2000 until now, despite the fact that voters are still located in the middle, the major two parties-the KMT and the DPP-have adopted strategies of centrifugal competition. This is especially true of the Democratic Progressive Party's rule, from 2000 to 2008 where the DPP demonstrated a strong tendency to move leftward.The case after 2000 apparently disconfirms Downsian theories. The main hypothesis of Downs' 'spatial theory of competition' perhaps can be revised as the following: Under two-party competition the two major parties, in order to win the support of most median voters, usually move toward the center temporarily before the election, but will quickly move back to their previous ideological position and may continue to move centrifugally, away from the center. In addition, the ruling party's rate and distance of the centrifugal move usually exceeds the opposition party's. |