JSISA 588/HSTAS 590: Making Modern Taiwan

Instructor

Professor James Lin

Course Description

“Making Modern Taiwan” introduces graduate students to key themes that have defined Taiwanese history, politics, society, and culture. How has Taiwan been shaped by empire, capital, ideas, and movements of people? How have these forces resulted in contested issues today such as identity, democratization, and development? How has Taiwan imagined the world and its own place within it?

Each week explores a different topic through assigned academic books, encompassing migration, colonialism, ethnicity/race, urban spaces, the Cold War, political economy, indigenous peoples, memory, labor, and gender. Readings and discussions will emphasize understanding Taiwan both as a case study for broader social science and humanities theories, as well as a site of unique social and political phenomena.

This course is cross-listed with History as HSTAS 590.