Candidate selection is an important part of the political process, and it has received comparatively little attention other than in some western countries. With respect to the criterion of centralization, this article analyzes the transformation of the ruling Kuomintang's (KMT) candidate selection system in Taiwan over the past five decades. The analysis draws implications for the evolution of decentralization in KMT candidate selection. Throughout this essay and in the conclusion, I note that the KMT appears likely to open its candidate selection practice in an attempt to perpetuate its dominant position in the electoral process.
Cheng, Tung-jen (1989) `Democratizing the Quasi-Leninist Regime in Taiwan', World Politics42: 477-478.
2.
Crotty, William J. (1968) `The Party Organization and Its Activities', in Crotty (ed.) Approaches to the Study of Party Organization. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
3.
Crotty, William J. and John S. Jackson III (1985) Presidential Primaries and Nominations. Washington, DC: CQ Press.
4.
Eulau, Heinz and Moshe M. Czudnowski (eds.) (1976) Elite Recruitment in Democratic Polities. New York: Sage.
5.
Fairlie, Lyndelle D. (1976) `Candidate Selection and Role Perceptions of Conservative and Labour Party Secretary/Agents', Political Studies24 (September).
6.
Gallagher, Michael and Michael Marsh (eds.) (1988) Candidate Selection in Comparative Perspective. London: Sage Publications.
7.
Gibson, Edward L. (1997) `The Populist Road to Market Reform', World Politics49 (April).
8.
Hadley Charles D. and Chung-li Wu, `Local Factions and the Kuomintang Candidate Selection Process', paper presented at the 1997 Third Annual Taiwan Studies Conference in North America, University of California at Berkeley, 18-19.
9.
Jackson, John S. and William J. Crotty (1996) The Politics of Presidential Selection. New York: HarperCollins.
10.
Obler, Jeffrey (1973) `The Role of National Party Leaders in the Selection of Parliamentary Candidates: The Belgian Case', Comparative Politics5 (January).
11.
Ranney, Austin (1981) `Candidate Selection', in David Butler, Howard R. Penniman and Austin Ranney (eds.) Democracy at the Polls. Washington, DC: American Enterprise Institute.
12.
Schattschneider, E. E. (1942) Party Government. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Wiston.
13.
Tien, Hung-mao (1989) The Great Transition. Stanford: Hoover Institutions.
14.
Williams, Robert J. (1981) `Candidate Selection', in Howard R. Penniman, ed., Canada at the Polls, 1979 and 1980 (Washington, DC: The American Enterprise Institute, 1981).
15.
Winkler, Edwin A. (1984) `Institutionalization and Participation on Taiwan', China Quarterly99 (September).
16.
Wright, William E. (1971) `Comparative Party Models: Rational-Efficient and Party Democracy', in William E. Wright (ed.), A Comparative Study of Party Organization. Columbus: Charles E. Merrill.
17.
Wu, Chung-li (1997) `From Authoritarianism to Democracy in Taiwan`, American Review of Politics18.
