Work

Conversion and drift of traditional institutions under democratization: case of the ‘evolved’ household registration system in Taiwan

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The Household Registration System (HRS) is commonly regarded as an instrument of social control and undemocratic. Paradoxically, it still survives in some electoral democracies with limited calls for its abandonment. This thematic study examines the HRS from a new Asian democracy, Taiwan, and responds to this puzzling phenomenon: why is this system still maintained after democratization? Taiwan has universal suffrage since 1996 but its HRS remains after 30 years of full democracy. This article reviews the evolution of the HRS in Taiwan from authoritarian through the democratic era and explores the rationales for its standstill after three decades of electoral democracy through the lens of institutional conversion and drift. The functions of the HRS in Taiwan have no longer been social control as in its outset. Its preservation in the democratic context without substantial reform has also accounted for several maladministration and corrupt phenomena.

Source: Journal of Contemporary East Asia Studies

DOI: 10.1080/24761028.2025.2593498

Authors: Bennis Wai-yip So, Lawrence Ka-ki Ho

Institutions: National Chengchi University, National Taiwan Normal University

Language: English

Topic: Hong Kong and Taiwan Politics

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Peace, justice, and strong institutions

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,533