Cultural, Ethnic, and Political Nationalism in Contemporary Taiwan

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-vi

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2. Introduction

   1. Introduction

      • John Makeham

      Pages 1-14

3. Democratization and Nationalism

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 15-15

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   2. “Taiwanization” in Taiwan’s Politics

      • J. Bruce Jacobs

      Pages 17-54

   3. Why Bother about School Textbooks?: An Analysis of the Origin of the Disputes over Renshi Taiwan Textbooks in 1997

      • Fu-chang Wang

      Pages 55-99

4. Identity in Literature

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 101-101

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   2. Being/Not Being at Home in the Writing of Zhu Tianxin

      • Rosemary Haddon

      Pages 103-123

   3. The Indigenization of Taiwanese Literature: Historical Narrative, Strategic Essentialism, and State Violence

      • A-chin Hsiau

      Pages 125-155

5. Memory and the Built Environment

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 157-157

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   2. Reading History Through the Built Environment in Taiwan

      • Jeremy E. Taylor

      Pages 159-183

6. The “China-cebrered” Paradigm and Indigenization

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 185-185

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   2. Indigenization Discourse in Taiwanese Confucian Revivalism

      • John Makeham

      Pages 187-220

   3. The Movement to Indigenize the Social Sciences in Taiwan: Origin and Predicaments

      • Maukuei Chang

      Pages 221-260

   4. Epilogue: Bentuhua—An Endeavor for Normalizing a Would-Be Nation-State?

      • A-chin Hsiau

      Pages 261-276

7. Back Matter

   Pages 277-289

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This volume analyzes what is arguably the single most important aspect of cultural and political change in Taiwan over the past quarter-century: the trend toward 'indigenization' (bentuhua). Focusing on the indigenization of politics and culture and its close connection with the identity politics of ethnicity and nationalism, this volume is an attempt to map prominent contours of the indigenization paradigm as it has unfolded in Taiwan. The opening chapters concern the origin and nature of the trend toward indigenization with its roots in the unique historical trajectory of politics and culture in Taiwan. Subsequent chapters deal with responses and reactions to indigenization in a variety of social, cultural and intellectual domains.

• nationalism
• politics
• social science

"Cultural, Ethnic and Political Nationalism in Contemporary Taiwan offers timely discussions on important changes in today's Taiwan. Having situated Taiwan in a global context and characterized the "bentuha" as a nationalist endeavor, the contributors of this volume examine carefully the island's colonial legacy, post-colonial experience and ongoing confrontation with mainland China. Their studies provide not only valuable and up-to-date information on Taiwan but also interesting and insightful perspectives on the persistent influence of nationalism and colonialism in this postcolonial and globalizing world." - Q. Edward Wang, Rowan University

"This book provides its readers with an assessment of the cultural and ethnic variables that help answer the question whether or not Taiwan should and/or will become part of China. This is a very critical question: The "Taiwan issue" constitutes a seemingly non-negotiable matter between the world's sole superpower, the United States, and the region's fast rising power, China; the result is that the Taiwan Strait is the world's number one "flashpoint" (or place where a conflict might occur with major powers employing weapons of mass destruction). Starting with the basics may be the key to finding a solution to prevent that." - John F. Copper, Rhodes College, Memphis, Tennessee "The first volume in any language to comprehensively address the theme of indigenization in Taiwan, Makeham and Hsiau s work probes the various meanings of bentuhua from an array of interdisciplinary perspectives. This is a set of nuanced, historically-informed readings that treats an incendiary topic with temperance and sophistication. - Christopher Lupke, Washington State University

JOHN MAKEHAM is Reader in Chinese Studies, Centre for Asian Studies, University of Adelaide, Australia. His recent publications include New Confucianism: A Critical Examination (Palgrave USA, 2003) and Transmitters and Creators: Chinese Commentators and Commentaries on the Analects (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Asia Centre, 2003).

A-CHIN HSIAU is a Fellow in the Institute of Sociology at Academica Sinica, Taiwan.

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