台灣社會歷經民主轉型和兩次政黨輪替，本應步入民主制度的「權力制衡」和「人權保障」常軌，但是，時至今日，民主制度良善運作的期待不僅未曾出現，台灣社會反而陷入分裂對立的民主困境。本論文首先分析台灣民主轉型所遭遇的瓶頸，指出「人權保障」是我們在嘗試緩和台灣社會分裂對立現狀時，最為可行的共識基礎。本論文的分析指出：自解嚴到政黨二次輪替，台灣無論在媒體改革或集會遊行自由保障的成效上，實質進展均相當有限，因此，台灣的公共空間從未真正解禁，公共領域也從未建立起堅實的基礎，因而使得公民參與無從真正蓬勃發展，公民社會也難以成為促成民主憲政體制良善運作的基石。因此，「人權保障」可說是台灣民主轉型的未竟志業。從「人權保障」的標準來看，台灣的民主轉型並未真正成功，然而，正因為「人權保障」可以做為現代文明社會的共識基礎，而真正符合民主憲政要求的政府，必須盡其所能地保障基本人權，也是無可否認的共識，因此，台灣目前基礎尚未穩固的公民社會，必須徹底反省，思考如何以集體的努力，建構並深化人權保障的共識基礎，進而促成更多人權保障的制度化成果出現。透過人權保障此一共同價值的普及化與深化，或能縮短對立陣營的距離，並藉由人權保障這個共識基礎，開啟真正理性溝通和對話的可能性，那麼，台灣民主轉型的未竟志業，或許才算勉強克盡其功。

This paper analyzes the reasons why “human rights protection” has become the unfulfilled promise in Taiwan’s democratic transition and searches for a common ground for Taiwan’s divided society. With its analysis on Taiwan’s development of freedom of speech and freedom of assembly and parade during the past two decades, this paper points out first that tight governmental control of public places gives evidence to the failure of media reform and the limited nature of the freedom of speech and assembly. Therefore, it is difficult for Taiwan’s civil society to witness the emergence of a sound and solid public sphere, suggesting that Taiwan’s democratic transition has never been successful. Secondly, this paper argues that since human rights are universal values, making the protection of human rights to be the ultimate mission of any democratic government who cherishes constitutional tradition, Taiwan’s civil society must push to institutionalize the values of human rights with a collective effort. By doing this, Taiwan will be able to end the confrontation of her divided society, create opportunities for reasonable communication and dialogue, and overcome any obstacles on the way to a true partnership democracy.