Taiwan: A Political History

by Denny Roy

For centuries, various great powers have both exploited and benefited Taiwan, their designs for this island frequently clashing with the desire of local inhabitants to control their own destiny. Such conflicts have shaped Taiwan's multiple, and frequently contradictory, identities. Denny Roy contends that Taiwan's political history is best understood as a continuous struggle for security. Eschewing the usual emphasis on the high politics of the recent era, he offers a comprehensive narrative of the island's political history from the first Chinese settlements to the Chen Shui-bian presidency. Roy covers the political system constructed by the KMT during the Cold War, the opposition breakthrough, the presidency of Lee Teng-hui, and the DPP presidential victory in March 2000. Roy's approach allows him to integrate his understanding of Taiwan's domestic politics with its foreign affairs--particularly the relations with mainland China. He reveals how the interplay between political forces within and the influence of foreign countries from without has shaped Taiwan. His is a balanced account, incorporating up-to-date coverage and presenting many indigenous voices. Taiwan: A Political History illuminates the origins of the island's often-troubled domestic and international political situation.

Genres: History, China, Nonfiction, Politics

288 pages, Paperback

First published December 19, 2002

Reviews

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book offers an excellent overview of the general history of Taiwan. It focuses primarily on political history (as the title suggests): on political parties, leaders, and systems of governance. Seven of the ten chapters are focused on the post-1949 period, so it is mostly focused on recent history to explain how Taiwan ends up looking the way it does in recent years. It's a great intro for those unfamiliar with, and looking for a nice way to acquaint themselves with Taiwan's modern history. It covers the major events, trends, and figures well and provides enough details to satiate one's interest to then go read more elsewhere.

Published in 2003, it ends in the beginning of Chen Shui-bian's first term, and at a time when Jiang Zemin was still leader of the PRC. As such, the book ends on a very optimistic note. So much has changed in China in the past 18 years. It would be interesting to see how Roy would treat developments since then in some sort of updated appendix to the book now.

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

VERY good. I was surprised how many times arrogance was a factor in messing up running Taiwan. Most notably the ROC. If they hadn't been so arrogant about thinking they could successfully take over China again, they might have been able to successfully push for a permanently independent country, which most Taiwanese seem to want.

[Rāhul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Taiwan is a singularly interesting country, at once a de-facto state and a de-jure part of China. Denny Roy's political history focuses primarily on the 20th century, but starts with the stories of aboriginal Taiwanese, migration of Fujianese and Hakka mainlanders to Taiwan, initial indifference of and later incorporation of Taiwan into the Qing empire during the period of European colonization, and how China ceded Taiwan after defeat to the Japanese empire in late 19th century. During Japanese colonial rule, modern Taiwan took shape with the Taiwanese simultaneously resentful of racial & cultural exclusion and appreciative of industrialization, a dynamic that played out in many colonies.
When Japanese empire-building intersected with larger forces in the second world war, and allied powers eventually defeated Japan, Taiwan was considered a Chinese territory freed from Japanese aggression, and awarded to the Chinese government in Beijing. China though was in the midst of a civil war in which the losing republican forces retreated into Taiwan and ruled Taiwan as a seat of a government of all China, while communist forces took control of the whole Chinese mainland. Larger forces of China and the cold war again held Taiwan hostage as it was being fought over by the mainland communist forces and republican (american-backed) government, neither representing Taiwanese interests. Over time, the military and diplomatic balance of power shifted to the mainland, and within Taiwan, opinions shifted from unification towards Taiwanese independence. However, the Chinese threat of the use of force and attraction to integration with a growing China tug against separatist forces. Taiwan today seems to be simultaneously drifting towards a national character separate from the authoritarian People's republic on the mainland, and increasingly integrated economically with the mainland.
Denny Roy's work is an informative primer to Taiwan for the uninitiated like me, perhaps weighed far too much towards recent history at the expense of the earlier past.

[Greg Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

very helpful treatise on Taiwan for the intelligent and educated traveller

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very thorough and easy to read history of Taiwan. A good starting point for those that may not know anything to Taiwan to those that want to learn more about Taiwan's history.

[Gary]

Started: 22 Oct 09
Finished: TBD