The book National Identity and Economic Interest was published on January 27. 2012 shortly after the presidential and legislative elections in Taiwan on January 14. 2012. Chairman of Taiwan Corner, Michael Danielsen has written a book chapter about Taiwan’s identity and how it can be used to outline a political path for Taiwan’s future. Read an abstract and buy the book at Amazon.co.uk.
The book National Identity and Economic Interest was published on January 27 2012 shortly after the presidential election in Taiwan on January 14. 2012. Chairman of Taiwan Corner, Michael Danielsen, contributes in the book with a chapter on Taiwan’s identity today and how it can be used to outline a political course for Taiwan’s future.
One important question that the chapter tries to answer is whether the Taiwanese have become more Chinese during the past years? Is there a clear identity in Taiwan and what importance does it play in the relationship with China?
Are the Taiwanese more Chinese than before?
Taiwan’s 23 million people elected the China-friendly president Ma Ying-jeou on the January 14. 2012 giving him a second term. It was clear that both Washington and Beijing hoped the election result will dampen the voices in Taiwan that express a strong Taiwanese identity. But are the Taiwanese getting more Chinese after all? In the book, Michael Danielsen shows that this is not the case.
In the chapter ”On the Road to a Common Taiwan Identity” we get an insight into Taiwan’s complex identity and the tension between the identity policy carried out by the government and the identities among ordinary people in their everyday life in Taiwan, in the languages and their cultures. The chapter looks at the meaning of the present Chinese identity policy of the government, and the Taiwan-focused identity policy of the main opposition party.
Why is Taiwan’s identity important today?
Taiwan’s identity is the key to the ownership of Taiwan’s future. The identity will answer the questions if Taiwan is Chinese or how does Taiwan differ from the rest of the Chinese speaking parts of the world?
A clear identity policy can also prevent an increasing internal conflict if the Taiwanese politicians can find a common Taiwanese identity.
Also, the chapter takes look into the future and attempts the outline an identity policy for the future of Taiwan.
Read an abstract and buy the book at Amazon.co.uk.
Read about the book at Palgrave Macmillan.
