The Construction of Polycentric Urban Governance:Reflections on the Problems of Asymmetric Urban Development and Democracy Deficit
Author: Yung-mau Chao, Ming-hsien Chen, Hao-ping Wang
Abstract / Chinese PDF Download
“With the creation of four new special municipalities on December 25, 2010,the administrative divisions in Taiwan underwent a major reorganization and nowcomprise five special municipalities, fourteen counties and three provincial cities.The areas controlled, present conditions, and past history of the four newly createdspecial municipalities (New Taipei City, Taichung City, Tainan City and KaohsiungCity) differ significantly from those of Taipei City. Yet, the institutional andoperational designs of the four new special municipalities are modeled on the capital.In this paper, we consider the development of the five special municipalities fromthe perspectives of “polycentricity” and “democracy deficit.” By examining theadministrative organization of the five special municipalities, we offer criticalreflections on the future development of the special municipalities in Taiwan.”