Mao Yi Yu Presentation at 8th Asian Global Justice School – International Institutefor Research and Education(IIRE) – Manila.

1. The Taiwan Sunflower
Movement:
A brief to its origin and context.
Ｍao Yi Yu
Presentation at 8th Asian Global Justice School – International
Institutefor Research and Education(IIRE) – Manila.

2. Outline - 1
• To understand The Sunflower Movement in its context.
• It is not a single event but one of a series of social unrests.
• It grew on the soil of a decaying capitalist society and a external rising
superpowers.
• The New generation stepped into the arena of politics by taking to
the street.

3. Outline - 2
• What was the essence of Taiwan’s political history.
• New perspectives on history among youth.
• The apparent and profound causes of social movements.
• Challenge: against narrow nationalism but approve the right of self-
determination.

4. The Sunflower Movement in its context - 1

5. The Sunflower Movement in its context - 2

6. A series of social unrests - 1
• 2013 – The Anti-Media Monopoly Movement.
• 2014 – The Sunflower Movement.
• 2015 – Anti-Black Box Curriculum Movement.

7. A series of social unrests - 2

8. A series of social unrests - 3

9. A series of social unrests - 4

10. Decaying capitalist society - 1

11. Decaying capitalist society - 2

12. External rising superpower - 1

13. External rising superpower - 2

14. Stepping into the arena of politics - 1
• Event: 2012 Shilin Anti-Forced Demolition Movements.
• A renewed sentiment of the younger generation.
• The popularization of mobile devices and social media in protest.

15. Stepping into the arena of politics - 2

16. The essence of Taiwan’s political history - 1
• Brand old authoritarian regime the KMT (Kuomintang, Nationalist
Party).
• Late game changer the DPP (Democratic Progressive Party).
• 1949 “retreat” of “invasion”?. The importance of ethnic politics in
Taiwan.
• Not Left v.s. Right but Independence v.s. Unification.

17. The essence of Taiwan’s political history - 2

18. The essence of Taiwan’s political history - 3

19. The essence of Taiwan’s political history - 4

20. New perspectives on history among youth - 1
• Taiwan’s Independence:Just a lingering ghost or a new born flesh?
• Different Times, differentdynamic behind the same slogan.
• New ethnic politics: from taiwanese vs mainlander chinese to taiwan
vs china.
• A paradoxical combination of conservativeand progressiveideas.

21. New perspectives on history among youth - 2

22. New perspectives on history among youth - 3

23. New perspectives on history among youth - 4

24. Apparent and profound causes
• How to explain the changing nature of political slogans?
• A proposition: it happens based on different stages of capitalism
development and global politics.
• What is behind the independence vs unification debate?

25. Left: nationalism or self-determination
• The dissatisfaction and frustration of the young generation.
• The will to challenge the establishment.
• Being skeptical to the right-wing nature of emerging movements
while promoting the right of self-determination.
• Stop CCP regime from expanding its power in the interest of Asian
people.