Forty years of laborious undertakings have sparked a dramatic change in the whole society of the Taiwan area. It is moving from an agricultural to an industrial, urban, modernized society. The changes can be summarized as follows:

From a simple to a complex society.

From a unitary to a pluralistic society.

From a closed to an open society.

From an affective to a systematized society.

From an experiential to a scientific society.

From a moral to a meritocratic society.

From a society of hard work and frugality to one of entertainment.

From a poor to a rich society.

From a stable to a changing society.

The changes have caused constant conflict and adjustment between new and old in areas from interpersonal and intergroup relations to values and work habits. Social change has hit hardest on government, political party, enterprise, and educational institutions. Under this impact, all groups must adjust their organizations and functions, or their very raison d'etre will become suspect. This article will explore the causes of this change in society, its new shape, and how it can be made to better consolidate and develop politics, the economy, education, national defense, and so on.

(1) Economic activities and accomplishments have sparked social change.

Change in any society is closely connected to many complex factors of politics, economics, consciousness, outlook, mass media, and achievement motivation.

In politics, the government has moved toward democratization and internationalization since the lifting of martial law in July, 1987. Activism in all areas of society has broken through the past condition of a stable society. Under the impact of liberalization, society has manifested a lack of harmony and consensus as well as a lack of political cooperation.

What has most attracted the attention of the world to the Taiwan area has been economic accomplishments. Taiwan's economy first used agriculture to develop industry, changing the economic and social structure. Succeeding this was export promotion, cultivating an international outlook on Taiwan and bringing in new technology and modernized concepts. The third stage was speeding up of modernization. Despite setbacks, this period strengthened social consciousness and the concepts of social security. The fourth stage has been diversification and internationalization. This has given society stimulation and the ability to adapt to change. These stages have all raised the quantity and quality of products in Taiwan and changed styles of living, work, organization, and management.

Of course, economic activity has raised the quality of urban, industrial life. On the other hand, the low growth of agriculture has widened the gap between rich and poor, and made society more prosperous, realistic, and meritocratic. The increase in the money supply has already brought inflationary pressures; rises in the prices of real estate far exceed rises in salaries. These could easily cause dissatisfaction and unease in society.

(2) Cultural factors influence the pace of change.

The new society sparked by democratization and internationalization has manifested a higher-level psychological dynamic, including motivations for accomplishment, abilities for activities, and power-seeking and change-seeking consciousness. The raising of motivations is manifested in the pursuit of wealth and rights. The pursuit of benefits has changed social relations and structure. The pursuit of power has changed superior-subordinate relations and consciousness. There is a decline in the work ethic and a rise in "get-rich-quick" gambling and speculation.

Change-seeking consciousness is common in today's society. This arises from dissatisfaction with the status quo, or from expectations that improvements in the status quo will continue. People have used all kinds of collective action to seek change in government policies, interrupting normal social processes and making society even more active and calculating.

(3) The overall dynamic of change strengthens system construction.

Democratization and internationalization have already brought disorder. The government should undertake a comprehensive plan to coordinate the government and private sectors to avoid the chaos and contradictions of internationalization. Democratization must have a plan for a systematic, directed democratic structure; only then can differences in understanding of democratization be narrowed.

With democratization comes liberalization, which must have norms to be followed so as not to fall into chaos. In liberalization people's consciousness of rights and equality will be raised. Only by raising the quality of policy and implementation can government satisfy the demands of the people. Only with broad consultation, uniting policy and public opinion and eliminating the obstacles of ignorance and misunderstanding, can the development of a democratic society be stabilized.

The organization and function of intermediate groups must also be adjusted to make them win people's trust and support. Groups like unions, farmers' associations, and business groups stand between government and people and can help in harmonization and communication. These can assist in giving people the benefits of economic and social activity.