The government of the R.O.C. was evaluated at home and abroad quite differently last year.

Overseas, the government's political reforms greatly raised the nation's prestige, as even traditionally unfriendly publications, such as The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal, gave very high marks to the ruling Kuomintang. Domestically, however, despite much favorable comment as well, the government was criticized more severely than in any other year since moving to Taiwan.

According to the Ministry of the Interior, 1,835 demonstrations were held on the island last year, 413 of them in Taipei, many of which snarled traffic and thoroughly frustrated commuters. The media frequently criticized government policies, and executive branch officials often engaged in hot debates with members of the Legislative Yuan.

Many people couldn't help but ask themselves, "Is this the 'democracy' we've been hearing so much about?"

"Democracy is a road with no return," says Huang Hui-chen, deputy director of reporters at the China Times. "The moment when the emergency decree activating martial law was lifted last year has determined the entire situation we have today."

Lifting the decree, Huang says, was not simply a presidential proclamation on a piece of paper; it signified that the government has the confidence and the ability to handle all of the problems that the nation faces through normal democratic methods.

"Change has brought disorder," says Chou T'ien-jui, editor-in-chief of the magazine New Journalist, "but if the disorder can be dealt with coolly and calmly, then the negatives can be turned into positives. It all depends on how well the government plays its role during the new era."

And what role is that?

"A modern government, theoretically speaking, should play four roles," says Chang Jun-shu, Director of the Institute of Public Administration at National Cheng-chi University. "It should maintain the nation's security, advance its citizens' welfare, formulate public policies, and carry out its administrative plans." The R.O.C. government has made considerable achievements in all four areas, Chang believes, but it still has room for improvements.

In Chinese political tradition, the government played a parental role toward the populace, but in today's democratic era the will of the people is paramount, and officials are simply public servants. "In the past the people demanded only that the government be effective and efficient," Huang says, "but now they want democracy, too."

These two roles are fundamentally in conflict. The democratic system is based on communication, compromise, and consensus; it's not a method designed for efficiency. And domineering masters are a far cry from compliant servants. Although the R.O.C. is already democratic, the public's expectations toward the government contain some contradictions, as a survey commissioned by Sinorama and conducted by the Graduate Institute of Journalism at National Chengchi University clearly shows.

"Obey the majority and respect the minority" is a democratic maxim familiar to all, but just who represents the majority today is sometimes difficult to determine.

Legislators are elected by the public, and so, in principle, the bills they pass should reflect the general will of the people. Owing to the R.O.C.'s special situation, however, only a third of the nation's legislators are able to stand for reelection, and this circumstance has unavoidably affected their ability to represent the popular will.

"Legislators, public opinion, and mass movements each make up only a part of the people's will," believes Huang Chu-wen, a member of the Legislative Yuan. The national legislature awaits further replenishment, he said, and public opinion is now being freely expressed after the lifting of press restrictions. As to just how much mass movements represent the will of the people and where the silent majority stands--that's still something of a riddle.

That some demonstrations have succeeded in influencing government policy has encouraged others to try the same tack. "If we don't change our policies, they call us inflexible, and if we do, then they say we're vacillating," laments Minister of Economic Affairs Li Ta-hai. "Different groups criticize us from different angles. And if the government tries to go out in front to lead the way, the public often fails to respond."

"Society has changed," says Yu Tzong-hsian, vice president of the Chung-hua Institute for Economic Research. "If you look at the parental role that the government has traditionally played in our country--well, the children have grown up. They should begin to treat each other as friends and equals. Otherwise we may find that we have a 'political generation gap' on our hands just like in a family with a rebellious teenager."

Press restrictions have been lifted; a new law on public assemblies and street marches has been enacted; and proposals are being considered for retiring aging parliamentarians and expanding the number of legislative seats subject to reelection.

These reforms have caused political observers at home and abroad to see the nation as passing through a political transition period. Despite the upheavals, most people are full of confidence that the government will continue to advance along the road to becoming a mature and stable democracy.

"Among all of world's Chinese communities, the Republic of China is the only one that possesses the true conditions for democracy and that can serve as a model for Chinese people everywhere," Chou T'ien-jui concludes. "At this juncture, the role of the government is something that we must create as we go along, because we long ago began marching ahead of history."

[Picture Caption]

The government often faces challenges in the four areas for which it is responsible: maintaining the nation's security, advancing citizens' welfare, formulating public policies, and carrying them out.

The executive branch of the government today is subject to pressure by elected representatives, mass media, and street demonstrations.

Where is the will of the people? Is it found in street protests? Or in community meetings such as this one, held in an old temple?

The government often faces challenges in the four areas for which it is responsible: maintaining the nation's security, advancing citizens' welfare, formulating public policies, and carrying them out.

The government often faces challenges in the four areas for which it is responsible: maintaining the nation's security, advancing citizens' welfare, formulating public policies, and carrying them out.

The government often faces challenges in the four areas for which it is responsible: maintaining the nation's security, advancing citizens' welfare, formulating public policies, and carrying them out.

The government often faces challenges in the four areas for which it is responsible: maintaining the nation's security, advancing citizens' welfare, formulating public policies, and carrying them out.

The executive branch of the government today is subject to pressure by elected representatives, mass media, and street demonstrations.

The executive branch of the government today is subject to pressure by elected representatives, mass media, and street demonstrations.

The executive branch of the government today is subject to pressure by elected representatives, mass media, and street demonstrations.

Where is the will of the people? Is it found in street protests? Or in community meetings such as this one, held in an old temple?

Where is the will of the people? Is it found in street protests? Or in community meetings such as this one, held in an old temple?