Taiwan’s Neighborhood and Li (里) Culture

On many evenings, a community center in a Taipei neighborhood remains brightly lit. A li‑chief (里長) convenes residents to plan a cleanup day. Lin‑chiefs (鄰長) report on local needs. In the adjacent room, a community‑college instructor teaches tai chi. This ordinary scene captures the heart of Taiwan’s community life: democracy practiced in everyday spaces, and local problems solved through local relationships.

In Taiwan, a li (里) is the smallest administrative unit. It may include a few hundred or a few thousand residents. These small “cells” of society shape Taiwan’s civic culture—how people organize, respond, and build resilience from the ground up.

The li and lin system: democracy at human scale

Taiwan’s village‑and‑neighborhood system (村里制度) is one of the most intimate democratic structures in the world. According to Taiwan’s Local Government Act, each li elects a li‑chief by direct vote. Terms last four years, and there are no term limits. The design keeps democratic participation accessible and personal.

The li‑chief is a hybrid role: part public servant, part community organizer, part mediator. In practice, li‑chiefs handle everything from:

• helping residents apply for documents,
• organizing health and safety initiatives,
• resolving neighborhood disputes,
• and coordinating cleanup days or festival logistics.

Below the li, the lin (鄰) is an even smaller block. Lin‑chiefs are typically appointed and serve without pay. Yet they are indispensable in daily operations—visiting elderly residents during typhoons, distributing public‑health supplies during outbreaks, and keeping communication channels open between households and the li office.

This system fosters a form of participatory democracy that is not abstract. It is relational. Residents see their representatives regularly, not just during election season.

Community building (社區營造): a bottom‑up movement

In the 1990s, Taiwan launched a movement called Community Building (社區總體營造). It encouraged neighborhoods to shape their own futures through culture, environment, and local industry. Instead of waiting for top‑down development, communities were invited to propose projects, find resources, and design solutions.

This movement grew out of Taiwan’s democratization. As political participation expanded, people sought ways to practice democracy beyond voting. Community building became a platform for local experimentation:

• In Chiayi’s Bantou community, ceramic (交趾陶) art revitalized traditional craft while supporting tourism.
• In Yilan’s Neicheng community, organic farming and ecological conservation created a “slow‑life” model that attracted young residents back home.

The core idea is simple: “Our community, our responsibility.” Through planning, fundraising, and project management, residents develop new skills and a deeper sense of place.

Community colleges: learning as civic action

In 1998, Taiwan’s first community college (社區大學) opened in Taipei’s Wenshan District. These colleges challenged the idea that education ends at a certain age or happens only in formal institutions. Their courses combine humanities, life skills, and civic participation.

Community colleges often function as local think‑and‑do tanks:

• The Beitou Community College promotes “Beitou Studies,” encouraging residents to map local history, ecology, and social issues.
• Courses frequently include field research, oral history, and community mapping—turning learners into local historians and advocates.

Many social movements found their organizational seeds in these spaces. Environmental protection, heritage preservation, and public‑interest campaigns often move from classrooms into neighborhood action.

Civic participation in daily life

Taiwan’s community culture reflects a shift from passive governance to active citizenship. Participation now goes far beyond elections:

• Residents form park stewardship teams to co‑design public spaces.
• Parents run school safety volunteer groups to protect children’s commute.
• Neighborhoods organize recycling patrols to monitor environmental practices.

A particularly important innovation is participatory budgeting, where part of a local budget is allocated through citizen proposals and voting. It increases transparency and makes residents feel like co‑owners of public resources.

Digital tools also expand participation. Platforms like Taipei Citizen e‑Services (台北市民e點通) or “My New Taipei City” apps allow residents to report issues and engage policy discussions without leaving home.

The ecosystem of community organizations

Beyond formal li structures, Taiwan’s neighborhoods are rich with civil organizations:

• Community Development Associations (社區發展協會): the most common civic organization, focused on local welfare and development.
• Volunteer networks: from environmental volunteers to library docents, these groups sustain daily operations with unpaid labor.
• Social enterprises: community‑owned businesses that reinvest profits into local needs—e.g., organic agriculture, craft production, or cultural tourism.
• Religious institutions: temples, churches, and monasteries often act as cultural centers, providing social services and community events.

These organizations create a third sector that complements government and markets, strengthening social resilience and local identity.

Challenges: aging, resource constraints, and polarization

Despite its vibrancy, Taiwan’s community system faces real challenges:

1. Aging and out‑migration: younger residents often move to cities, leaving rural areas older and less resourced.
2. Limited funding: many community projects rely on competitive government grants, which can be unstable or insufficient.
3. Urban anonymity: large apartment complexes can dilute neighborhood ties, making local participation harder.
4. Political polarization: local issues sometimes become entangled in national party conflict, weakening trust.

These pressures test the adaptability of Taiwan’s community institutions and the leadership of li‑chiefs.

Innovation and the future

Communities across Taiwan are experimenting with new approaches:

• Intergenerational collaboration: programs where elders share knowledge and younger residents contribute digital and design skills.
• Smart community systems: IoT security, environmental sensors, and online service platforms that improve day‑to‑day governance.
• Social‑enterprise models: blending financial sustainability with public purpose to reduce reliance on grants.
• International exchange: partnerships with communities abroad to share governance practices and problem‑solving strategies.

Why this culture matters

Taiwan’s li culture proves that democracy is not only a set of institutions—it is a way of living together. In the process of discussing a drainage project or organizing a community festival, residents learn how to listen, negotiate, and build consensus. These everyday practices build civic literacy and long‑term resilience.

In times of crisis—typhoons, earthquakes, pandemics—these networks are often the fastest to mobilize. The ability to coordinate quickly at the neighborhood level is a quiet but powerful asset of Taiwanese society.

Conclusion: seeing Taiwan through the li

Taiwan’s li culture is an ongoing democratic experiment. It transforms public policy into human relationships and makes governance visible in street‑corner interactions. The future of Taiwan’s democracy is not only in the legislature or the presidency—it is also in the community center, the neighborhood meeting, and the shared work of living together.

References

1. Ministry of Culture (2022), “Community Building and Village Culture Development Program (2022–2027).” https://www.moc.gov.tw/cp.aspx?n=128
2. Community Taiwan (2021), “Beyond hobby classes: social action through community colleges.” https://communitytaiwan.moc.gov.tw/Item/Detail/不只是才藝班，社區大學的社會行動
3. Taipei City Civil Affairs Bureau (2024), “Li‑chiefs: rights and responsibilities.” https://ca.gov.taipei/cp.aspx?n=3E43CD1A09FE5FA9
4. Ministry of the Interior (2023), “Local Government Act and the Village/Neighborhood system.” https://www.moi.gov.tw/
5. Wikipedia (2025), “Community Building Movement (社區總體營造).” https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-tw/社區總體營造