Underground publications displaced by retailers selling books
In the post-World War II era, Taiwan experienced a cultural awakening known as the dangwai (outside the party) era. During this time, dissident magazines played a crucial role in challenging one-party authoritarian rule by the Kuomintang (KMT) and paving the way towards democracy. Today, independent bookstores in Taiwan have taken up a similar mantle, serving as cultural hubs that promote democratic values, affirm Taiwanese identity, and educate the public on historical and contemporary issues.
The dangwai era, which preceded Taiwan’s democratization, saw the emergence of magazines that circulated despite government censorship, fostering historical awareness, political critique, and discussion of world events. These publications, such as Cultivate, CARE Magazine, The Movement, Progress, China Tide, Ren-Jian, Con-Temporary, and Freedom Era Weekly, played a critical role in enlightening the Taiwanese population and undermining authoritarian rule.
Fast forward to the present day, independent bookstores have filled the void left by a lack of cultural movements since the first transition of power to the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in 2000. Government-led cultural institutions have been criticized for being constrained by contracts and rewards, leaving cultural movements diminished. However, independent bookstores have stepped up to become centers for civic engagement and education.
These bookstores have played significant roles in recent social movements, such as the mass recall campaigns against KMT lawmakers, illustrating their function as grassroots spaces for democratic activism and cultural education in the post-authoritarian era. The movement to recall numerous KMT lawmakers has seen young Taiwanese rallying across the country to safeguard democratic values.
Independent bookstores are not just spaces for learning about Taiwanese culture and identity in the modern age, but they are also becoming a force for Taiwanese culture. By educating and strengthening democratic values, these bookstores are playing a crucial role in safeguarding democracy and promoting Taiwanese identity amid contemporary political challenges, including pressures related to relations with China.
The parallels between dangwai magazines and independent bookstores lie in their shared commitment to strengthening democratic values through cultural and political education. While dangwai media was instrumental in the movement to end one-party authoritarianism, modern independent bookstores are significant in safeguarding democracy and promoting Taiwanese identity amid contemporary political challenges.
The Taiwanese literature movement also underwent a shift during the dangwai era. It moved away from focusing on "Chinese literature in Taiwan" to stories relevant to Taiwanese life. This shift was initiated in 1964 with the establishment of Taiwan Literature and Arts, Li Poetry Magazine, and the publication of A Declaration of Formosan Self-Salvation.
However, the road to democracy was not without its challenges. The forced closure of Formosa Magazine led to the Kaohsiung Incident, during which political prisoners were arrested. Despite these obstacles, dangwai magazines continued to be published, and new journals emerged.
In conclusion, independent bookstores in Taiwan carry forward the democratic and cultural missions once championed by dangwai publications by serving as vital spaces for education, identity formation, and political engagement. They are key players in Taiwan’s ongoing democratic development and cultural affirmation.
Independent bookstores, like their predecessors in the dangwai era, foster a lifestyle that encourages historical awareness, cultural education, and democratic values within home-and-garden settings of civic engagement. They serve as contemporary hubs for discussion, much like the dissident magazines of the past, promoting Taiwanese identity and safeguarding democracy amid contemporary political challenges.
