20世紀以來中華文化與民主化在臺灣的傳承與發展

Chinese Culture vs. Democratization: Taiwan’s Inheritance and Development since the 20th Century

自海權時代來臨，西方以科學革命、啟蒙運動、工業革命所匯集而成的帝國主義，使中國在19世紀成為列強的「次殖民地」（Sub-colonies）。在面對西方霸權與現代化的衝擊之下，中國於1920年代展開「新文化運動」，促使傳統文化去蕪存菁並且吸納現代思潮，使中華文化更加多元與創新。1949年，由於國民黨政權和部分學者東渡臺灣，先後將新文化運動中的「五四精神」，以及之後的「中華文化復興運動」等推行於社會各層面，使曾被日本殖民50年的臺灣，不但傳承完整的中華文化，更與民間信仰結合，普及社會各階層。1990年代，由於經濟快幅提升成為「亞洲四小龍」之首，臺灣逐漸邁向富而好禮的公民社會，消費與環保意識、公民素養等都快速提昇。在政治解嚴後，臺灣成為華人社會的民主典範，逐漸實現當年胡適所提倡的自由主義，貫徹五四運動中「德先生」（Democracy）之理想。但近年來，由於一黨獨大，政治力介入媒體等現象，對民主化後臺灣社會，帶來很大的爭議。

Since the Age of Sail, strengthened by the Scientific Revolution, the Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution, Western Imperialist countries made China their sub-colonies during the nineteenth century. Facing Western Hegemony and modernization, China started the New Culture Movement in the 1920s to rejuvenate its culture, screening the old traditions and assimilating modern concepts. In 1949, KMT government and its affiliated scholars moved to Taiwan. They advocated “the May Fourth Spirit” and “Chinese Culture Renaissance” in sequence, which widely influenced all classes of Taiwanese people to inherit fully the Chinese culture blending it with their native folklores, after 51 years of Japanese Occupation. During the 1990s, with economic growth rapidly booming, Taiwan became the head of “Four Asian Dragons,” a well mannered civil society embracing consumer and environment awareness. After the Lifting of Martial Law, Taiwan became the model of democracy among all Chinese societies globally, realizing Liberalism promoted by Hu Shih and the ideal of “Mr. Democracy” harbored by the May Fourth Movement. However, in recent years the phenomena of One Party Dominance and political power interference with media caused grave harm to Taiwan society after its democratization.