Recently, a thought-provoking question was raised online: “Why do supporters of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) maintain a steady support rate of around 40% despite various scandals, social problems, and political controversies?”
This phenomenon seems to challenge common logic, but it can perhaps be interpreted through the lenses of emotion, identity, and political culture.
First, the political style and personal charisma of ROC President Tsai Ing-wen and Vice President (and then-candidate) Lai Ching-te may be a reason for the steadfastness of DPP supporters.
Tsai Ing-wen describes her supporters as “die-hard,” while Lai Ching-te established “Friends of In-Lai” (Trust) groups to gather the masses. these actions combine political identity with emotion, further deepening the loyalty of supporters toward these two leaders. This emotional resonance may transcend simple political ideology, becoming an expression of sentiment and value.
Second, politics as a form of collective action and communal feeling can sometimes form a kind of religious fanaticism among supporters.
This fanaticism is not just support for a political leader, but a following of a collective identity and faith. Much like how cult leaders around the world can attract large numbers of followers—even if they collect donations with one hand and engage in inappropriate relationships with the other—they still have a large number of die-hard followers. The common point behind this phenomenon may lie in the creation of a belief system that triggers emotional resonance in supporters, even leading to group confrontation against so-called “heretics” who smear their “deities.”
However, this political fanaticism can also trigger controversy and even division. When supporters’ emotions are overly invested, it can lead to opposition, a phenomenon that can occur among supporters of any political party.
For example, Frank Hsieh’s move to seek spiritual guidance from Sung Chi-li might have been a pursuit of a political strategy, but from an outsider’s perspective, it could provoke different opinions and raise questions about the behavior.
In summary, political fanaticism, as a manifestation of collective action, can be interpreted from multiple angles such as emotion, identity, and political culture. Regardless of how party supporters express their support for a leader, this emotional resonance and consensus on values shape political reality to a certain extent and highlight the profound influence of politics in society.