Taiwan—A Light in the East

Book excerpt: This book is an analytical of study of Taiwan interspersed with personal elements from the author's life there in the last 20 years. Taiwan's unique confluence of colonial histories, Chinese nationalism and democratization offers a tangible alternative to the status quo in mainland China, albeit one that is becoming more marginal with time. With this in mind, the author offers a concise introduction to the politics and culture of contemporary Taiwan, investigating the Taiwanese identity, aesthetic and its future. A guide to navigating the coming years for Taiwan and greater China, this book will be of interest to scholars, political scientists and historians.