Alan M Wachman

Taiwan: National Identity and Democratization

National Identity and Democratization

• Gebundenes Buch

Produktbeschreibung

At a moment when clashing forces of nationalism and heightened demands for political reform dominate the political life of many states, the democratization of Taiwan is a drama worthy of study. Since 1987, Taiwan has experienced a sequence of political changes that few thought possible and which standing theories of democratization assert could not happen. At issue is the persistent uncertainty about the national identity of Taiwan. This reflects the stark clash of nationalist visions: the Chinese nationalism manifested by the Mainlander elite in the ruling Nationalist Party (KMT), and the Taiwanese nationalism manifested by those who advocate that Taiwan be an independent state. By any measure, Taiwan has become a democracy despite the inability of the political elite to reach consensus about what is the national identity of the state. This study examines the history of the democratization in Taiwan from the perspective of the national identity problem. Based on interviews with leading figures in the KMT and opposition parties, it elucidates the nature of the conflict among political elites about identity since the Nationalists came to Taiwan in 1947, describes how the conflict about identity has affected the course of democratization since the onset of reform in 1987, and explains why the political science theories about nationalism and democratization do not account for what has happened in Taiwan. The author has written to reach a broad readership and has not burdened the text with excessive jargon that would limit its accessibility. The historical discussion is interwoven with quotations from contemporary notables as well as commentary about conceptual matters pertaining to theprocess of democratization. This results in a work that will appeal to both the Taiwan specialist as well as those interested in national identity and the process of democratization per se.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Taylor & Francis Ltd (Sales)
• Seitenzahl: 288
• Erscheinungstermin: 31. Dezember 1994
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 229mm x 152mm x 19mm
• Gewicht: 585g
• ISBN-13: 9781563243981
• ISBN-10: 1563243989
• Artikelnr.: 21754482

Autorenporträt

Alan M. Wachman is the American Co-Director of the Johns Hopkins University-Nanjing University Center for Chinese and American Studies on the campus of Nanjing University in China. He received both an A.B. in East Asian art history and a Ph.D. in political science from Harvard University and a master's degree in international relations from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. His research about Taiwan was informed by three years of work and study in Taichung and Taipei.

Inhaltsangabe

Introduction
Chapter 1 Nationalism and Identity
Chapter 2 Democracy and Democratization
Chapter 3 Conflicting Identities On Taiwan
Chapter 4 The Origins of Taiwanese Identity
Chapter 5 Opposition and the Course of Reform
Chapter 6 The Rhetoric and Symbolism of Politics
Chapter 7 The Politics of Elections
Chapter 8 The Impetus for and Impediments to Democratization
Conclusion