Transitional Justice and Health, Happiness, and Solidarity: An Analysis of the 2020 National Survey in Taiwan

Political violence caused by war, armed conflicts, or state violence against its own people is a major determinant of health. Transitional justice is both a value and a set of practices aimed at preventing the recurrence of state political violence. This study proposes a revised conceptual framework that establishes the relationship between people's attitudes toward transitional justice practices and their physical health, happiness, and sense of solidarity in self-defense amid geopolitical tensions. The study uses Taiwan as an illustrative case of transitional justice in a post-authoritarian democracy with historical state political violence and under threats of external political violence. The analysis is based on data from a cross-sectional, nationally representative survey conducted in 2020, with a final sample size of 1048 participants. The study found positive associations between different dimensions of attitudes toward transitional justice and respondents' well-being and willingness to defend themselves. The findings suggest that recognition of the state's unjust political violence and reconciliation among social members may be related to people's well-being. Furthermore, transitional justice should be seen not only as a domestic issue but also as one with significant geopolitical implications.