本文探討台灣民主化對台灣安全的意涵，當台灣走向民主轉型過程中，台灣安全是獲得更多保障還是不確定因素反而增加？本文認為台灣民主化過程所造成的改變，在台灣的對外關係與台灣安全層面產生三項重要變化：首先是台灣民主化使得國內政治成為影響台灣對外政策與台灣安全政策的關鍵性因素。其次，台灣民主化造成整體台灣安全環境的變化，尤其是北京與華盛頓政府，也由於台灣民主化而因應改變其台灣安全與兩岸政策與態度。第三，伴隨台灣民主化而形成的台灣意識與國家認同問題，衝撞現行兩岸關係與國際外交結構限制。

This article intends to probe the meaning of Taiwan's democratization for Taiwan's security-whether democratization increases Taiwan's security or adversely creates more uncertainty. It is argued in this article that three important changes in Taiwan's external relations and security environment have arisen from the process of democratization. First, Taiwan's democratization has made domestic politics the critical factor in the decision-making of the island's foreign policy and security policy. Second, Taiwan's democratization has caused alternations in Taiwan's arching security environment; Beijing and Washington, especially, have correspondingly changed their attitudes toward cross-strait policy and Taiwan's security respectively. Third, different Taiwanese identities accompanying Taiwan's democratization are challenging the constraints set by present cross-strait relations and the international diplomatic structure.