Taiwan is no stranger to international headlines in the past year for its pivotal role in the global supply chain and its strategic location in the Asia Pacific. What lies behind front page stories is a fledgling democracy, hailed as an economic miracle by the IMF, fumbling its way through the quest of a joint identity among its diverse peoples. The lectures of this course will cover Taiwan’s historico-political trajectory, industrial/economic development in critical phases, SMEs and occupational structure, and the relationship between industry trends and migration. Sessions will also be dedicated to understanding Taiwan’s position in international trade and exploring future industry outlooks of regional collaboration and frictions. Most critically, students will see how economic growth on the island has “bolstered” and coincided with a wave of democratization.
The one-week expedition to Taiwan will offer students firsthand insights into key industries on Taiwan’s development agenda, such as offshore wind energy and upgraded agriculture aside from the semiconductor industry. Equally present in the itinerary will be conversations with government institutions, NGOs advocating for migrant rights and empowering the homeless, as well as field trips to aboriginal tribes to experience a glance of the cultural treasures Taiwan has to offer.