Beginning around 2006, the world fell into a democratic recession that has now lasted for two decades, morphing into a "third reverse wave of authoritarianism." During this period, levels of freedom have declined in every region of the world, and many of the world's most influential democracies have experienced democratic backsliding and even a descent into some form of authoritarian rule.

On September 9, 2026, the Foundation will host the International Symposium on Civil Society, Democratic Resilience, and National Security: Twenty Years After Taiwan’s Anti-Corruption Red Shirt Movement, bringing together scholars and public-policy leaders from Taiwan, the United States, and Australia for an in-depth dialogue across nations and generations on history, political institutions, civil society, and international security.

法務部推薦美麗島大審軍檢林輝煌出任大法官，從未痊癒的台灣歷史傷痛再度被掀開，對我們大多數人而言，這只是「想像的痛苦」，然而，對一生歷經無數次背叛的施明德而言，這一刀切下去，仍然汩汩的流著鮮血。政界、學界質疑，馬政府提名林輝煌，無疑是對轉型正義打了一個大大的耳光，然而，對親身參與那段抗爭的施明德，歷史卻無法如此黑白分明。

On the question of the central government system in constitutional reform, DPP Chairperson and 2016 presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen ruled unequivocally: “Mainstream public opinion currently insists on direct presidential elections, so there is no room for a parliamentary system.” It was the first time that Tsai — habitually ambiguous and hard to read — showed such categorical resolve, and it shot down many people’s hopes for a parliamentary system.

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Gina’s LGBT Hour. If we can never see clearly the world we live in — who dominates whom? By what means? Through what methods? What is one’s proper place? What is love? What is rebellion? — then watch the surreal film Jacky au royaume des filles and see it all, clearly and fully!

When news leaked that the Ministry of Justice had again recommended Lin Hui-huang for the post of Grand Justice, my first reaction was that “Ma Ying-jeou should not exercise the presidential power of nomination for the remainder of his term.” A president already implicated in a leak case and in questions over political donations has lost his legitimacy and should restrain his own powers. Society’s reaction, however, centered on whether the prosecutor at the Formosa Military Trial was fit to serve as a Grand Justice.

日前，台灣關懷中國人權協會理事長楊憲宏陪美國21世紀威伯福斯基金會執行長艾福瑞先生來訪。原本憲宏告訴我，他們此行的目的是希望邀請參與聲援中國信仰自由及一起呼籲馬英九讓達賴年底入境台灣參加宗教活動。