Jackson School Associate Professor and Taiwan Studies Program Chair James Lin has recently received the Henry A. Wallace Award for his book, “In The Global Vanguard: Agrarian Development and the Making of Modern Taiwan.” The award, presented annually by the Agricultural History Society, recognizes the best book on agricultural history outside the United States.
The award honors Henry A. Wallace (1888–1965), who held multiple high-ranking positions including U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and the 33rd Vice President under Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The Agricultural History Society has presented this award annually since 2010.
“It’s a tremendous honor to be recognized by the Agricultural History Society, especially considering all the excellent scholarship on agricultural history published every year,” Lin said.
Written over the course of 15 years, “In The Global Vanguard examines” Taiwan’s transformation from an agricultural colony into an economic power and how it brought these practices to the developing world. Lin conducted extensive archival research for the book, drawing on government documents, personal papers, and oral histories from the United States, Taiwan, and Vietnam.
“I hope my book will highlight how the history of agricultural development in the 20th century is more than just about economic growth or scientific improvement, but also about the social and political ramifications of the development project as a whole,” Lin said.
