Why Taiwan Matters: Small Island, Global Powerhouse

by Shelley Rigger

Overview

Written by a leading expert on Taiwan, Why Taiwan Matters offers a comprehensive and engaging introduction to a country that exercises a role in the world far greater than its tiny size would indicate. Shelley Rigger explains how Taiwan became such a key global player, highlighting economic and political breakthroughs so impressive they have been called "miracles." She links these accomplishments to Taiwan's determined society, vibrant culture, and unique history. Drawing on arts, economics, politics, and international relations, Rigger explores Taiwan's importance to China, the United States, and the world. Considering where Taiwan may be headed in its wary standoff with China, she traces how the focus of Taiwan's domestic politics has shifted to a Taiwan-centered strategy. All readers interested in Asia and international affairs, as well as travelers to the region, will find this an accessible and entertaining overview, replete with human interest stories and colorful examples of daily life in Taiwan.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781442204799
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	04/29/2011
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	232
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.90(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

A leading authority on Taiwan, Shelley Rigger is Brown Professor of Political Science at Davidson College in North Carolina. She earned a PhD in government from Harvard University and has been studying and visiting Taiwan for nearly four decades. She has been a visiting researcher at National Chengchi University in Taipei and a visiting professor at Fudan University in Shanghai. Her books include Why Taiwan Matters: Small Island, Global Powerhouse, and she consults for the US government on East Asian national security issues.

Table of Contents

Preface vii

1 The World's Tallest Building 1

2 Building Taiwan 11

3 From Farmers to Manufacturers 41

4 From "Free China" to Democratic Taiwan 59

5 "America Is Boring at Night" 95

6 "An Opportunity Full of Threats": Cross-Strait Economic Interaction 117

7 Making Peace with the China Inside and the China Outside 133

8 The International Birdcage 165

9 Why Taiwan Matters to America and the World 187

Bibliography 199

Index 203

About the Author 211

What People are Saying About This

Alan M. Wachman

What a delight! Rigger offers a masterfully crafted volume—part paean, part history, part ethnography, and part prescription—that brims with insight to an island and observations about a people she has come to know intimately but writes of with a critical perspective and affection. Vivid prose and Rigger’s faultless eye for the telling detail yields a splendid volume that is sure to appeal to the uninformed first-time visitor as well as the seasoned analyst seeking to fill gaps in understanding.

Nancy Bernkopf Tucker

This lively look at Taiwan is a superb primer for those who should know more about the island’s successes and an entertaining review of political, economic, security, and societal developments for specialists. Bringing to bear a wealth of knowledge and experience, Rigger vividly evokes the forces that have allowed Taiwan to survive and thrive through difficult times. Her insight into the significance of Taiwan’s democracy, free market, cultural dynamics, generational change, cross-Strait ties, and participation in the international community are persuasive and valuable.

Richard C. Bush

Taiwan is the quiet success story that no one ever heard of, but there’s no one better than Shelley Rigger to reveal why it deserves to be noticed. She knows the society from the inside out and has a deep sympathy for its people. Her account is always balanced and keeps an eye on why Taiwan really is important for the United States.

Editorial Reviews

Many books have recounted Taiwan's economic and political 'miracles,' and readers may wonder why they should be interested in another. Rigger gives two answers: Taiwan is inherently of interest because of its rapid economic growth and democratization, and its vibrant society and cultures; and Taiwan matters because of the island's high-tech global economic role and the strategic security niche it occupies in the western Pacific. Rigger's account is comprehensive and detailed for the last two decades in which she's done research there. She attempts balance, and that is never easy in an area that has been a global hotspot for 62 years. The portrayal is engaging, well written, and sympathetic to the Taiwanese without being cloying. Moreover, it is provocative. For example, Rigger argues that the increased economic interdependence of Taiwan and China 'exposes just how different the two sides have become over the past sixty years.' Both general readers and specialists will enjoy this volume. Summing Up: Recommended. All readership levels.” —Choice Reviews

“For anyone who wants to truly understand the origins of modern day Taiwan and its relationship with the world, Shelley Rigger’s new book is a must-read. Rigger crafts a concise and insightful volume that is accessible to scholars and non-academic readers alike. As well as addressing the crucial question of why Taiwan is important to the United States, she chronicles the island’s deep political split and helps the reader understand the complexities surrounding the different factions at work. Through Rigger’s insightful observations, it is easy to understand why the small island of Taiwan has survived and thrived.” —Taiwan Insights.com

“Shelley Rigger has written an excellent introduction to a place that not only is significant in its own right, but also illustrates how the rise of China and Asia’s democratization are now linked.” —The Weekly Standard

“Shelley's newest volume, Why Taiwan Matters, offers a comprehensive and engaging introduction to a country that exercises a role in the world far greater than its tiny size would indicate.” —Davidsonnews.Net

“Shelley's newest volume, Why Taiwan Matters, offers a comprehensive and engaging introduction to a country that exercises a role in the world far greater than its tiny size would indicate.” —Davidsonnews.Net

“Throughout Why Taiwan Matters, Rigger portrays Taiwan as a complex, rich and sophisticated country, so much so that the idea it could conceivably not matter becomes a ridiculous one. And the feeling of affront and incredulity that one gets while reading the final chapter is more than powerful enough to drive the point home. An excellent and well-researched cultural/political breakdown of Taiwanese society, this book is not only interesting but thoroughly enjoyable, and also manages to turn the reader into a fervent polemicist—a remarkable feat in just over 200 pages.” —The Wild East

“Rigger’s well-written and engaging book highlights the strength and vitality of Taiwan’s economic and political miracle, but it also shows its inherent vulnerabilities and challenges on the world stage. Why should the U.S. care about Taiwan? The answers to this question are complex and provocative, and leave the reader with a sense of the challenge that diplomats and security analysts face in maintaining a stable U.S.-PRC-Taiwan relationship. For these reasons, Ms. Rigger’s book is highly recommended for those interested in current U.S. security affairs and East Asian geopolitics.” —National Strategy Forum Review

“Why Taiwan Matters performs a useful service in outlining Taiwan's signal contributions to democratic development and its crucial role in the international economy. At a time when so much of the world's focus seems to be riveted on China, the book provides a case for why Taiwan also deserves attention.” —Taiwan Business Topics

“Describing Taiwan as a ‘key global player’ despite its small size, Rigger looks at the country’s political and economic achievements, paying particular attention to the way it has managed its relations with China and the United States.” —Survival

“Rigger delivers a very important and frequently overlooked argument, namely that there is growing consensus in Taiwan about the desire to conduct trade with mainland China, while staving off political negotiations with Beijing that could undermine Taiwan’s hard-won system of democratic government and political independence.” —Taiwan Review

“Taiwan is the quiet success story that no one ever heard of, but there's no one better than Shelley Rigger to reveal why it deserves to be noticed. She knows the society from the inside out and has a deep sympathy for its people. Her account is always balanced and keeps an eye on why Taiwan really is important for the United States.” —Richard C. Bush, Senior Fellow, Center for East Asia Policy Studies, The Brookings Institution

“This lively look at Taiwan is a superb primer for those who should know more about the island's successes and an entertaining review of political, economic, security, and societal developments for specialists. Bringing to bear a wealth of knowledge and experience, Rigger vividly evokes the forces that have allowed Taiwan to survive and thrive through difficult times. Her insight into the significance of Taiwan's democracy, free market, cultural dynamics, generational change, cross-Strait ties, and participation in the international community are persuasive and valuable.” —Nancy Bernkopf Tucker, Georgetown University

“What a delight! Rigger offers a masterfully crafted volume-part paean, part history, part ethnography, and part prescription-that brims with insight to an island and observations about a people she has come to know intimately but writes of with a critical perspective and affection. Vivid prose and Rigger's faultless eye for the telling detail yields a splendid volume that is sure to appeal to the uninformed first-time visitor as well as the seasoned analyst seeking to fill gaps in understanding.” —Alan M. Wachman, Tufts University

From the Publisher

Describing Taiwan as a ‘key global player’ despite its small size, Rigger looks at the country’s political and economic achievements, paying particular attention to the way it has managed its relations with China and the United States.

Survival

Shelley Rigger has written an excellent introduction to a place that not only is significant in its own right, but also illustrates how the rise of China and Asia’s democratization are now linked.

The Weekly Standard

Many books have recounted Taiwan's economic and political 'miracles,' and readers may wonder why they should be interested in another. Rigger gives two answers: Taiwan is inherently of interest because of its rapid economic growth and democratization, and its vibrant society and cultures; and Taiwan matters because of the island's high-tech global economic role and the strategic security niche it occupies in the western Pacific. Rigger's account is comprehensive and detailed for the last two decades in which she's done research there. She attempts balance, and that is never easy in an area that has been a global hotspot for 62 years. The portrayal is engaging, well written, and sympathetic to the Taiwanese without being cloying. Moreover, it is provocative. For example, Rigger argues that the increased economic interdependence of Taiwan and China 'exposes just how different the two sides have become over the past sixty years.' Both general readers and specialists will enjoy this volume. Summing Up: Recommended. All readership levels.

CHOICE

Many books have recounted Taiwan's economic and political 'miracles,' and readers may wonder why they should be interested in another. Rigger gives two answers: Taiwan is inherently of interest because of its rapid economic growth and democratization, and its vibrant society and cultures; and Taiwan matters because of the island's high-tech global economic role and the strategic security niche it occupies in the western Pacific. Rigger's account is comprehensive and detailed for the last two decades in which she's done research there. She attempts balance, and that is never easy in an area that has been a global hotspot for 62 years. The portrayal is engaging, well written, and sympathetic to the Taiwanese without being cloying. Moreover, it is provocative. For example, Rigger argues that the increased economic interdependence of Taiwan and China 'exposes just how different the two sides have become over the past sixty years.' Both general readers and specialists will enjoy this volume. Summing Up: Recommended. All readership levels.

Choice

Why Taiwan Matters performs a useful service in outlining Taiwan's signal contributions to democratic development and its crucial role in the international economy. At a time when so much of the world's focus seems to be riveted on China, the book provides a case for why Taiwan also deserves attention.

Taiwan Business Topics

Many books have recounted Taiwan's economic and political 'miracles,' and readers may wonder why they should be interested in another. Rigger gives two answers: Taiwan is inherently of interest because of its rapid economic growth and democratization, and its vibrant society and cultures; and Taiwan matters because of the island's high-tech global economic role and the strategic security niche it occupies in the western Pacific. Rigger's account is comprehensive and detailed for the last two decades in which she's done research there. She attempts balance, and that is never easy in an area that has been a global hotspot for 62 years. The portrayal is engaging, well written, and sympathetic to the Taiwanese without being cloying. Moreover, it is provocative. For example, Rigger argues that the increased economic interdependence of Taiwan and China 'exposes just how different the two sides have become over the past sixty years.' Both general readers and specialists will enjoy this volume. Summing Up: Recommended. All readership levels.

Choice Reviews

This lively look at Taiwan is a superb primer for those who should know more about the island's successes and an entertaining review of political, economic, security, and societal developments for specialists. Bringing to bear a wealth of knowledge and experience, Rigger vividly evokes the forces that have allowed Taiwan to survive and thrive through difficult times. Her insight into the significance of Taiwan's democracy, free market, cultural dynamics, generational change, cross-Strait ties, and participation in the international community are persuasive and valuable.

Nancy Bernkopf Tucker

Throughout Why Taiwan Matters, Rigger portrays Taiwan as a complex, rich and sophisticated country, so much so that the idea it could conceivably not matter becomes a ridiculous one. And the feeling of affront and incredulity that one gets while reading the final chapter is more than powerful enough to drive the point home. An excellent and well-researched cultural/political breakdown of Taiwanese society, this book is not only interesting but thoroughly enjoyable, and also manages to turn the reader into a fervent polemicist—a remarkable feat in just over 200 pages.

The Wild East

Taiwan is the quiet success story that no one ever heard of, but there's no one better than Shelley Rigger to reveal why it deserves to be noticed. She knows the society from the inside out and has a deep sympathy for its people. Her account is always balanced and keeps an eye on why Taiwan really is important for the United States.

Richard C. Bush

I found this book a pleasure to read. It’s crammed with information, pleasantly informal, judicious and notably even-handed.. .. Rigger’s account [is] credible and astute, and hence recommendable to anyone looking for a concise and reliable account of this island’s very remarkable story.

Taipei Times

For anyone who wants to truly understand the origins of modern day Taiwan and its relationship with the world, Shelley Rigger’s new book is a must-read. Rigger crafts a concise and insightful volume that is accessible to scholars and non-academic readers alike. As well as addressing the crucial question of why Taiwan is important to the United States, she chronicles the island’s deep political split and helps the reader understand the complexities surrounding the different factions at work. Through Rigger’s insightful observations, it is easy to understand why the small island of Taiwan has survived and thrived.

Taiwan Insights.com

Shelley's newest volume, Why Taiwan Matters, offers a comprehensive and engaging introduction to a country that exercises a role in the world far greater than its tiny size would indicate.

Davidsonnews.Net

What a delight! Rigger offers a masterfully crafted volume—part paean, part history, part ethnography, and part prescription—that brims with insight to an island and observations about a people she has come to know intimately but writes of with a critical perspective and affection. Vivid prose and Rigger's faultless eye for the telling detail yields a splendid volume that is sure to appeal to the uninformed first-time visitor as well as the seasoned analyst seeking to fill gaps in understanding.

Alan M. Wachman

Rigger’s well-written and engaging book highlights the strength and vitality of Taiwan’s economic and political miracle, but it also shows its inherent vulnerabilities and challenges on the world stage. Why should the U.S. care about Taiwan? The answers to this question are complex and provocative, and leave the reader with a sense of the challenge that diplomats and security analysts face in maintaining a stable U.S.-PRC-Taiwan relationship. For these reasons, Ms. Rigger’s book is highly recommended for those interested in current U.S. security affairs and East Asian geopolitics.

National Strategy Forum Review

Rigger delivers a very important and frequently overlooked argument, namely that there is growing consensus in Taiwan about the desire to conduct trade with mainland China, while staving off political negotiations with Beijing that could undermine Taiwan’s hard-won system of democratic government and political independence.

Taiwan Review