In 2014, the Taiwanese government’s approval rating was less than 10%. Anything it suggested was automatically distrusted. Then, an uprising prompted a chain of events that would transform it into one of the most trusted democratic governments in the world.
On 18 March 2014, a coalition of students and civil society groups occupied the parliament, protesting. After the protest something extraordinary happened. The government invited the protesters in – some even became mentors to ministers – and a new team was established to ensure transparency in government. One of the protestors, Audrey Tang, went from occupier to digital minister.
Over the following years, the government instituted new forms of digital democracy that engaged citizens to design the rules governing Airbnb and Uber, the Covid pandemic response and, most recently, to crackdown on internet deepfakes.
The technology used is based on an open-source civic tech tool called Polis, which asks people to agree or disagree with statements and offer their own. Its unique algorithm maps the results not by what divides the population, but by the areas where people who might usually disagree find consensus. It flips the traditional polling method on its head.
Audrey Tang’s mantra is “To give no trust is to get no trust.” In other words, government first needs to trust its citizens before they will trust their government. This attitude and approach increased government’s approval rating from less than 10% to more than 70% by the time she left office. That’s remarkable!
It appears that Taiwan’s government at the time communicated with citizens through a digital platform. They informed the public of the problem, outlined the complexity and trade-offs, described their solution to the problem and considered concerns and suggestions. Politicians and public officials, often in a bubble of their own, cut off from the real world, do not have the best answers to problems.
This shows the Taiwanese government treated its citizens with respect. Many others, including Australia, have treated their people as ‘the great unwashed’, not deserving of respect. Kevin Rudd, for example, oft referred to Australians as ‘little people’, implying that they are unable to make decisions for themselves, needing a ‘grown-up’ (important people like him) to do so for them.
Classic Liberals’ attitude is the antithesis of Rudd’s. Classic Liberals’ DNA and policies show its respect for the Australia people, recognising them as adults capable of making their own decisions and either enjoying the fruits of good decisions or the pain for wrong ones. Treating people with respect necessitates being transparent, recognising that you don’t necessarily have all the answers and considering their suggestions.
Written by: Mark M.J. Morris (May 2026)