Party Camps for Young Leaders-Training the Future Political Elite

Over the past few years of rapid political change in Taiwan, "leadership cultivation" has come into fashion. With varying aims and methods, government agencies, academic groups, political parties and non-government organizations (NGOs) have all been trying to train leaders. Some have called for outstanding youths to get involved in politics, selecting "ten college leaders" during elections to grill candidates about their policies. Others have emphasized recruiting "the best and the brightest who have the interests of the nation at heart," hoping that their actual participation in political parties will mold their political leadership abilities. Then there are those who affirm "that the new age requires new directions" and aim to establish a new cultural tradition for cultivating leaders. Still others call for lively alternative methods of education that will provide leaders from different social groups with a more multi-faceted and holistic approach.

Training leaders, past and present

China has a long history of cultivating leaders. In ancient times efforts focused on preparing the crown prince to ascend to the throne. His education at court focused on cultivating kindness, morality and broad-mindedness through an appreciation of art and culture. When the Qing dynasty gave way to the Republic of China, the ruling party became the cradle of leadership. The KMT's famous Revolutionary Practices Research Institute has long focused on training the KMT elite. Many current KMT leaders have spent time there. The China Youth Corps, meanwhile, is rooted in the colleges and universities and has the stated aim of serving youths. The CYC holds training camps during summer and winter vacation which often include elements of leadership training.

In the 1980s, both before and after the repeal of martial law, a rising chorus called for a new focus on Taiwan's native soil. In this period, various social movements-including the labor, women's, environmental and students' movements-started gaining steam. Calls for reform on college and university campuses closely reflected protest movements in society at large. The DPP, then Taiwan's largest opposition party, actively recruited prominent campus activists and social movement leaders. These efforts pumped fresh, young blood into the opposition movement. Among the student leaders of that era who now have prominent positions in the government are Ma Yung-cheng, a top presidential aide; Lo Wen-chia, Vice Chairman of the Council of Cultural Affairs; and Lin Cheng-hsiou, the director of Taipei's Bureau of Civil Affairs.

Finding a new way

The rise of campus activists to positions of political prominence has resulted in a lot of attention being paid to campus reform movements and party leadership camps.

Kuo Shu-ping, who is currently an aide to legislator Wang To, attended one of those camps. She recalls that many students who were members of reform-oriented campus groups took leadership training courses linked to the DPP, forming supportive, long-term relations with the party. Participation in these camps allowed student activists to forge important strategic alliances. "The back-up support and personnel needed for political activities on campus often came from connections made during leadership camps and the like. And many students who were preparing for political careers used these leadership training camps as stepping stones to positions of political power."

At the end of the 1990s, Taiwan politics entered a new era with the opposition DPP taking over the executive branch. Flag-waving and slogan-shouting street protests have now fallen from favor, and the kind of leadership training that was popular in the 1980s seems an awkward fit for the present day. It is a time of transition.

Hsu Yang-ming, the Democratic Progressive Party's vice secretary-general, points out that many youths in Taiwan do in fact desire to help their nation. Yet the passions stirred by political movements don't satisfy them, for they believe that the key matters that need to be considered right now are more personal in nature: issues of identification, self-realization, and the pursuit of physical and spiritual peace and stability. As a result, these types have all turned from leadership training to community development.

Boot camp for political careers

Generally speaking, leadership training for political careers is restricted to those in the 18-35 age group. The curriculum follows a progressive series of courses, with about 50 students in each class and six months required to complete each level. Each student has to pay about NT$200. The lecturers include elected officials, whose views don't stray far from the party line, and senior journalists, as well as famous writers who are concerned about social issues. The sponsoring organizations make strong efforts to attract excellent instructors.

Most of the students are youths with a strong political bent, many of whom hope to become political reporters or legislative assistants, or to find positions at political brain trusts. Some plan to get involved in social movements or to seek public office themselves. As far as they are concerned, these leadership camps are basic training in political participation.

For Tsai Pei-fang, a journalism student at National Chengchi University who wants to be a crack political reporter, last summer's "People First Party's e2k Young Leaders' Camp" at Tanshui's Fontaine-bleau Educational Center provided her with an opportunity to supplement her knowledge about off-campus politics. Among the lecturers at the camp were legislator Diane Lee, former secretary-general of the Straits Exchange Foundation Shih Chi-ping, and People First Party (PFP) chairman James Soong. Tsai had a chance to meet politicians and gain a better understanding of how the political process really works.

Most of those attending political leadership camps have clear political leanings. Kao Pao-hua, the administrator who was responsible for planning the PFP camp, points out that most of those in attendance were the offspring of PFP officials or were recruited through mobilization campaigns by local party offices. Some were university or college students who share the party's ideals. He explains that a few students who performed particularly well were then invited to work in the party. By learning how to handle media interviews, write press releases and participate in policy seminars put on by political think tanks, they will further hone their leadership skills through practical experience.

Elementary study, advanced experience

There are two basic training methods employed at these political leadership camps: classroom study and practical experience.

Elementary course curricula typically adopt one of two basic approaches. The first puts the emphasis on understanding the current state of national politics, whereas the second has a more inward orientation, seeking to develop the special qualities that make a leader. The coursework for the former doesn't go beyond topics that are commonplace in academic study: political and economic trends, foreign relations, cross-strait relations, media and public relations, party development, international affairs, and so forth. The latter kind of training course, on the other hand, explores topics such as controlling emotions, personal character growth, and even developing a leader's charisma.

Unlike the elementary level of classroom education, advanced-level training provides students with practical, hands-on experience. The second stage of the PFP's "Leadership Camp" brought students to areas being rebuilt from the rubble of the September 21, 1999 earthquake. The students were able to build leadership character as they provided aid to earthquake victims. On the other hand, the political research class put on by the Chilin Foundation, which is connected to important figures in the DPP, took the creative approach of designing a wedding-like ceremonial vow. It's an attempt to get students to regard political participation as an important part of life that requires an oath of lifetime devotion.

Mixed feelings about political power

In the leadership camps put on by political parties, politics naturally comes first. As a result these classes provide a good glimpse of how youth regard political power with mixed feelings. The students want leadership training so that they can participate in politics and join the future elite being cultivated by one party or another. At the same time, they fear being regarded as power-hungry future politicians. During the course of these activities you can often hear the students emphasize that they "don't aspire to be a young leader or to acquire fame and fortune." It's clearly difficult for them to strike a balance.

The idolization of charismatic totalitarian dictators such as Hitler and Mao Zedong ended in disaster. With regard to the current political scene, a number of critics have warned about the importance of "decoding leadership and power." At a China Evening Times forum, the writer Ping Lu pointed out that excessive emphasis on immediate political advantage has made "deconstructing the leadership myth" an urgent task in today's society.

As the youths participating in these leadership camps seek both outward channels for political participation and inner leadership qualities, they seem only to fall into a greater state of confusion. These young leaders, who will help to shape the future of the island, seem to be searching for a spark to brighten a darkened and confusing political scene.

p.100

Some of the leaders from various walks of life who are setting the tone of the times in Taiwan.

p.103

The World Leadership Education Foundation, which emphasizes both religion and science, is unique in using "Zen leadership" to help people acquire wisdom and peace of mind.

p.103

The Dream-Making Foundation invited Lin Kun-hui, director of Lifeline International Kaohsiung, to be an instructor at the "New Era Youth Leadership Symposium" that it put on in conjunction with the National Youth Commission. Lin encouraged youths to gain life experience and cultivate skills by working as volunteers.