In 2014, Taiwan’s government faced widespread dissatisfaction and a popular movement known as the Sunflower Movement. During this movement, students occupied legislative buildings in protest of a proposed trade deal with China. After three weeks of protests, their demands were finally met, marking a significant turning point in Taiwanese democracy.
One of the groups that emerged from the Sunflower Movement was the civic technology cooperative g0v, led by Audrey Tang. Tang, who has faced her own health challenges in life, including a heart condition, believed that the fragility of democracy mirrored her own life. As the country’s first transgender minister, she introduced her vision of “radical transparency” to Taiwan through vTaiwan – a virtual platform for democratic deliberation.
Tang joined the government in 2016 and continued to advocate for transparency and digital innovation. When covid-19 hit Taiwan in late 2019, Tang played a crucial role in the country’s response as a cabinet member for digital affairs. By 2022, Taiwan had earned praise for its handling of the pandemic – thanks in part to Tang’s leadership – and she was appointed as the country’s first minister of digital affairs. In her new book Plurality: How Taiwan Became One of the World’s Most Resilient Democracies