Political History of Taiwan

(Will be updated on 2/18)

February 2014, Political Science 202883001

Instructor: Cheng-tian Kuo (2939-3091x50737, , GPB 270737)

Time: Wednesday 9:10-12:00 pm, Classroom: GPB 270315

I. Class Objectives

Based on a critical and historical review, we will examine the continuities and changes of Taiwan’s political development from the Japanese colonial period to the present. We will explore different factors affecting the development, such as political parties, local factions, conglomerates, and cross-Strait relationships. The goals of this class are to learn from the history about how to avoid repeating past mistakes as well as how to improve Taiwan’s current democracy.

II. Outlines

Political development before 1949

Authoritarian rule

Democratization

Democratic consolidation

III. Weekly Topics

Introduction, Factors Affecting Taiwan’s Political Development, Japanese Colonial Period, Retrocession and the 228 Incident, Field Study of the 228 Museum, Beginning of Martial Law, Politics of the Authoritarian Rule, State Corporatism and Economic Development, Mid-term Examination, Weakening of the Authoritarian Rule, Establishment of Constitutional Democracy, Constitutional Pitfalls, Party Turnover, Political Parties and Democracy, Factional Politics, Business Politics, Cross-Strait Relations, Final Examination.

III. Pedagogy

The pedagogy of this class consists of lecture, group discussion and field study. We encourage the respectful exchange of different political views. This class is taught in English.

IV. Evaluation Criteria

Class grades are based on two open-book examinations (40 points each, based on class readings and discussion) and class attendance (20 points; based on the quantity and quality of participation). Students are expected to learn different interpretations of Taiwan’s political history and make their own reasonable judgments.

Textbooks:

  1. Roy, Denny. 2003. Taiwan: A Political History. Ithaca: Cornell University Press.
  2. Copper, John F. 2012. Taiwan: Nation-State or Province? 6th ed. Boulder, CO: Westview Press.

3.  A Xerox packet for other required readings.

Other Optional References:

  1. Bush, Richard C. 2013. Uncharted Strait: The Future of China-Taiwan Relations. DC: Brookings Institution Press.

3.  Chao, Linda, and Ramon H. Myers. 1998. The First Chinese Democracy: Political Life in the Republic of China on Taiwan. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press. (Chao & Myers hereafter)

  1. Fell, Dafydd. 2012. Government and Politics in Taiwan. New York: Routledge.
  2. Hood, Steven J. 1997. The Kuomintang and the Democratization of Taiwan. Boulder, CO: Westview. (Hood hereafter)

6.  Rigger, Shelley. 2001. From Opposition to Power: Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party. Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner Publishers.

  1. Rubinstein, Murray A. ed. 2007. Taiwan: A New History. Expanded edition. Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe. (Rubinstein hereafter)

8.  Tucker, Nancy Bernkopf. 2011. Strait Talk: United States-Taiwan Relations and the Crisis with China. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

Weekly Topics

(* Required Readings)

I、Introduction, 2/19

1.*Copper, chap.1.

II、Factors Affecting Taiwan’s Political Development, 2/26

1.*Roy, Chapter 1.

2.*Chengtian Kuo. 2003. Book review, Denny Roy, Taiwan: A Political History (Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 2003). Issues and Studies, 39 (3, September): 231-35.

3.*Copper, chap.2.

4.Chao, pp.1-18.

III、Japanese Colonial Period, 3/5

1.*Roy, Chapter 2.

2.*Chengtian Kuo. 1999。"The Origins of State-Local Relations in Taiwan." Issues and Studies, 35(6, November/December): 29-58.

3.Lamley, Harry J. “Taiwan Under Japanese Rule, 1895-1945.” In Rubinstein.

IV、Retrocession and the 228 Incident, 3/12

1.*Roy, Chapter 3.

V、Taipei 228 Memorial Museum Tour, 3/19

For visitor’s information, check http://228.culture.gov.tw/web/web-eng/museum/museum-3.htm

VI、Beginning of Martial Law, 3/26

1.*Roy, Chapters 4, 5.

VII、Politics of the Authoritarian Rule, 4/2

1.*Hood, pp.11-17, 21-29, 50-55.

2.Chao & Myers, pp.19-100.

VIII、State Corporatism and Economic Development, 4/9

1.*Cheng-Tian Kuo. 1995。Global Competitiveness and Industrial Growth in Taiwan and the Philippines. Pittsburgh, PA: University of Pittsburgh Press, pp.49-74.

2.*Copper, chapter 5.

IX、Mid-term Examination 4/16

X、Weakening of the Authoritarian Rule, 4/23

1.*Roy, Chapter 6.

2.Hood, pp.84-90.

3.Chao & Myers, pp.101-150.

XI、Establishment of Constitutional Democracy, 4/30

1.*Roy, Chapter 7.

2.Hood, pp.93-100, 141-147.

3.Chao and Myers, pp.151-216.

XII、Constitutional Revisions, 5/7

1.*Taiwan’s Constitution and Amendments.

2.*Copper, chap.4.

3.Chao & Myers, pp.217-264.

XIII、Party Turnover, 5/14

1.*Roy, Chapter 8.

XIV、Political Parties and Democracy, 5/21

1.*Hood, pp.150-168.

2.*Rigger, Shelley. 2001. From Opposition to Power: Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party. Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner Publishers. pp.15-36.

XV、Factional Politics, 5/28

1.*Chengtian Kuo. 2000. "Taiwan's Distorted Democracy in Comparative Perspective." Journal of Asian and African Studies, 35 (1): 85-111. Also in Wei-Chin Lee, ed. 2000. Taiwan in Perspective. Leiden, Netherlands: Koninklijke Brill, pp. 85-112.

XVI、Business Politics, 6/4

1.*Shangmao Chen and Chengtian Kuo. 2003. “Democratization and Financial Reform in Taiwan.” Paper delivered at the Conference on Democracy in Greater China, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, December 13, 2003.

XVII、Cross-Strait Relations, 6/11

1.*Cheng-Tian Kuo. 1993. "Economic Statecraft Across the Taiwan Strait." Issues and Studies, Vol. 29, No. 10, pp.19-38.

2.*Chen-yuan Tung. 2003. “Cross-Strait Economic Relations: China’s Leverage and Taiwan’s Vulnerability.” Issues & Studies, 39 (3, September): 137-75.

3.*Copper, chapter 6..

XVIII、Final Examination 6/18

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