國立臺灣大學政治科學論叢

Abstract / Chinese PDF Download

Recently, the image of Farmers Associations in Taiwan（hereafter FAT）is sobad.    It  seems  that  this  most  extensive  farmer  group,  composed  of  all  farmers  inthe island state, will shortly become worthless.    This organization reveals a strongpolitical  character  as  it  has  been  extensively  involved  in  local  politics  for  severaldecades.    Since the early 1990s, FAT has begun to encounter both internal crisisand external challenges.    However, in developmental  perspective, it has played  asignificant role in rural development in Taiwan since 1950s.    Nevertheless, FAT isstill  valuable  in  terms  of  the  role  and  function  because  it  effectively  helpsgovernment  to  successfully  promote  various  programs  of  rural  development.    Inperspective  of  policy  study,  FAT  is  a  policy  implementation  agent.    This  farmerorganization and the government have formed an unique and effective governancethat  successfully  promoted  rural  modernization  in  Taiwan.    Policy  makers  andimplementing  agencies  in  developing  countries  are  eager  to  learn  experiences  ofFAT and try to copy its model for implementing their rural development.Governance  approach  emphasizes  the  partnership  between  governments  andnon-government  organizations  that  co-produces  public  services.    Social  capitalperspective  places  emphasis  on  trust,  identification,  norms,  and  social  networkswhich may properly be transformed into delivery and provision of public services.Government  may  make  use  of  social  capital  that  FAT  presents  and  improvecapacity of public policies.    This paper, which is based on social capital approach,examines the role, function, and policy effectiveness of FAT in rural development and modernization in Taiwan during the past decades.    Particularly, trust, norms,cooperation,  and  social  networks  embedded  in  FAT  have  been  transformed  intodevelopment  policy  effectiveness  by  the  government.    Obviously,  FAT  with  richsocial  capital  has  actually  played  a  policy  agent  since  its  formation  in  the  1950s.FAT,  as  a  NPO,  is  valuable  for  policy  learning  for  most  developing  countries.Hence,  there  should  be  no  consideration  of  abolishing  FAT.    FAT  should  bereformed  as  a  newly  renovated  farmer  organization  that  will  be  able  to  play  asignificant role in transforming the agricultural sector as well as the development ofrural areas in Taiwan.