National Chengchi University
International Master’s Program in Taiwan Studies (IMTS)
Taiwanese Political Economy (政治經濟與公共政策)
Saturday 234 General Building 271201
Spring 2007
Instructor Information
Professor Brian Chi-ang Lin (林其昂)
Office: General Building 270940
Phone: 50940 (campus) or 2938-7296 (O)
E-mail: sustainabletaiwan@yahoo.com.tw or calin@nccu.edu.tw
Website: http://pf.nccu.edu.tw/FACULTY/calin/index.htm
Hours: 10:30-11:30 a.m. Wednesdays & Fridays (Other times by appointment).
Course Description
This course investigates the Taiwanese politico-economic structure from a historical
perspective. The authoritarian KMT regime arrived in Taiwan in 1949 and
subsequently initiated a series of economic reforms. From the late 1950s to the end of
the century, Taiwan experienced a significant level of economic growth. The
economic success, however, could not prevent the KMT regime from being defeated
in the 2000 presidential election. Taiwan’s experience shows that the dynamic
relationship between economic results and political forces in a transitional economy
are closely intertwined. It also shows that Taiwan’s “economic miracle” has proved to
be a political failure for the KMT government in the long run. This is a big lesson.
The course will consist of an introduction to relevant basic concepts and analytical
tools in the field of Political Economy, and will also include some important ongoing
topics for research purposes. The course gives equal consideration to the objectives of
localization and internationalization. Rational analysis is principal, and perceptual
discussion is supplementary.
Texts and Reading
1. Crawford, James. The Creation of States in International Law, 2nd edition. Oxford:
Clarendon Press, 2006.
2
2. Ho, Szu-yin and I-chou Liu. “The Taiwanese/Chinese Identity of the Taiwan People
in the 1990s.” American Asian Review 20, 2(Summer 2002): 29-74.
3. Hsing, Mo-Huan. Industrialization and Trade Policies in Taiwan. Edited by Hui-lin
Wu and Tsu-tan Fu. Taipei: Institute of Economics, Academia Sinica, 2002.
4. Huang, Xiaoming (ed.) The Political and Economic Transition in East Asia: Strong
Market, Weakening State. Richmond, Surrey, UK: Curzon Press, 2001.
5. Lin, Brian Chi-ang. “China’s Future and Taiwan’s Past: An Institutional
Perspective.” Ritsumeikan Journal of Asia Pacific Studies 15 (January 2005):
49-63.
6. Lin, Brian Chi-ang and Chia-lin Yang. “The Unified Public-Private Industry in
Taiwan: The Institutionalist View.” (in Chinese with English Abstract)
Journal of Social Sciences and Philosophy 13, 2(June 2001): 135-168.
7. Ranis, Gustav, Sheng-Cheng Hu and Yun-Peng Chu (eds.) The Political
Economy of Taiwan’s Development into the 21st Century: Essays in Memory
of John C.H. Fei, Volumes 1 & 2. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar, 1999.
8. Schmid, Allan. Conflict and Cooperation: Institutional and Behavioral Economics.
Malden, MA: Blackwell, 2004
9. Silin, Robert H. Leadership and Values: The Organization of Large-Scale
Taiwanese Enterprises. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1976.
10. Wade, Robert. Governing the Market: Economic Theory and the Role of
Government in East Asian Industrialization, 2nd edition. Princeton, NJ:
Princeton University Press, 2004.
Grading Policy
Grades will be determined on the basis of the student’s performance in relation to
class participation, two reading reports and one research paper. Each short reading
report (of 2-3 pages each) will be weighted at 10%, class attendance and participation
will be weighted at 20%, and the research paper at 60%.
Lecture & Discussion Topics
Week 1:
Week 2:
Week 3:
Week 4:
Week 5:
Week 6:
Introduction: The Nature of (International) Political Economy
The Role of Government: An Overview
UPPITY (Unified Public-Private Industry: Taiwan’s Yoke)
The Taiwanese/Chinese Identity of the Taiwan People
The Legal Status of Taiwan
Invited Guest Lecture: Prof. Yagi of Kyoto University
3
Week 7:
One Country, Two Systems: The Case of Hong Kong
Week 8: In-Class Reading Report I
Week 9: Comparative Institutional Analysis: An Introduction
Week 10: Economic Reform I: Gradualist Approach
Week 11: Economic Reform II: Big Bang Approach
Week 12: Spring Field Trip
Week 13: The Cross-Strait Relationship: The US Clout
Week 14: The Prospect of Green Politics
Week 15: In-Class Reading Report II
Week 16: Future Politico-Economic Perspectives