Post on 14-Jan-2016
Surrounded by Giants: The Making of Modern
Taiwan
Ofelia Fu
Michelle Wu
Introduction A. Small Island Country
1. Less than 1/10 size of Japan
2. 23 million people
B. Precarious position: The Taiwanese high-wire act
-China, Japan, US
C. Preview
1. Brief Political History
II. Multi-cultural
III. Economically Diverse
IV. Educationally Focused
I. Brief History of International Relations
A. Japanese Colony for 50 years 1. Infrastructure 2. Cultural Influence B. KMT arrive in 1949 1. Capital 2. Government 3. Language and Culture C. Close American ties 1. Culture 2. EconomyII. Delicate Balancing Act 1. Must keep good relations with each 2. Cultural flow from each
II. Multi-cultural
A:Indigenous culturesB: International impact 1. China 2. Japan 3.North America/ Europe 4. Foreign worker ( Thai, Philippine)C: Foreign-Friendly 1.Culturally accepting 2.Multi-lingual
II. Economically diverse
A. Large international companies
■ TSMC
■ ASUS
■ ACER
■ HTC
■ GIANT
B. Myriad small shops and restaurants
I. Entrepreneur wonderland
2. Shopping malls and night markets
III. Education Focus
98.29%
1.71%
Figure 1. The percentage of literacy
Source: http://www.wearn.com/bbs/top-ic.asp?topic_id=236492
Literate
illiterrate
1990 1995 2000 2005 20100
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
University rate
%
Figure 2. The University rate in Taiwan
year
Conclusion
Shaped by geo-political events
Small but economically dynamic
Rich in cultural variety
Future uncertain
References http://
www.i-part.com.tw/diary/diary_viewpage.php?o=2257102&d=371
http://www.wearn.com/bbs/topic.asp?topic_id=236492
Discussion Questions
1. Taiwan now has a system with near universal university education. However, the difference in the quality of education and the ability of the students from the top university to the bottom universities is extremely large. Do you think trying to send all citizens to university is a wise goal for a country to pursue? Why or why not?