Prior to the early 1990s, however, the ultimate enemy was always the authoritarian KMT state apparatus, regardless of whether the movement was concerned with freedom, human rights, gender equality, locally rooted culture, the environment, or the interests of farmers or laborers. Because it was so clear who the protests were against, it was naturally much easier to mobilize people. It was also much easier to elicit public support.
只不過在 1990 年代初期之前，不管是為自由人權、性別平等、本土文化、環保生態、農民或勞工權益奮戰，共同敵人最終總是指向國民黨一黨獨大的強勢國家機器壓制，由於抗爭目標單一明確，力量自然容易聚集，同時也較能引起社會大眾的共鳴。