Contemporary Taiwan - More Than a Flashpoint

This new textbook presents an excellent introduction to the most important aspects of contemporary Taiwanese society, politics, economy, and international relations in a comprehensive and reader-friendly way.
Illustrating Taiwan as more than just a military hot spot - also as a vibrant democracy, a beacon of human rights, a technological leader, and an economic hub - each chapter poses a fundamental question, including:

• How did the island develop?
• How did Taiwan become a democracy?
• How does it combine tradition and modernity?
• What human rights problems does Taiwan encounter?
• How did Taiwan become an Asian Tiger?
• How does it live with its neighbours?
• How does diplomacy work when you're not internationally recognized?

Contemporary Taiwan is an excellent resource for students of Taiwan Studies, international relations, political science, and global studies, as well as think tanks, consultants, and journalists seeking critical and balanced background information on contemporary Taiwan.

List of contents

Introduction. What should everybody know about Taiwan? 1. Historical Legacy: How did Taiwan become Taiwan? 2. Domestic Politics: How did Taiwan become a democracy? 3. Society: How does Taiwan blend tradition and modernity? 4. Human Rights: What are the roadblocks in an otherwise progressive path? 5. Economy and Technologies: How did Taiwan become an 'Asian Tiger'? 6. Cross-Strait Ties: What it is like to live with a dangerous neighbor? 7. The International Status of Taiwan: How does a scarcely recognized country conduct diplomacy?

About the author

Kristina Kironska is Assistant Professor at Palacký University Olomouc, Czech Republic, and Co-Director at the Central European Institute of Asian Studies (CEIAS).
Eunika Rejtová Yang is a research fellow at the Central European Institute of Asian Studies (CEIAS).

Product details

• Authors: Kristina (Palacky University Olomouc Kironska
• Assisted by: Kristina Kironska (Editor), Eunika Rejtová Yang (Editor)
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd.
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 25.11.2025
• EAN: 9781032804859
• ISBN: 978-1-0-3280485-9
• No. of pages: 108
• Series: Routledge Research on Taiwan Series
• Subjects: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Geosciences > Geography; Social sciences, law, business > Social sciences (general); POLITICAL SCIENCE / General, Economics, Taiwan, HISTORY / Asia / General, Society & culture: general, POLITICAL SCIENCE / World / Asian, Politics & government, Regional Studies, Politics and government, Regional / International studies, Asian History, Society and culture: general, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Cultural & Ethnic Studies / Asian Studies