Details
GLS 317/EAS 317/HIS 313
Taipei City, Taiwan
Taipei City, Taiwan
Overview
Taiwan, a small island of 23 million off the coast of China, holds an outsized role in global geopolitics. Pundits speculate about potential military conflict between the U.S. and China over Taiwan, while others point to Taiwan Semiconductor, which produces over 60% of the world’s advanced chips, as a key factor in future tensions. Whether seen as David to China’s Goliath or a flashpoint in the South China Sea, Taiwan is frequently in the news but remains poorly understood.
This seminar takes students beyond the headlines to explore Taiwan’s history, society and culture. The course will examine the island's colonial past, including Japanese occupation and KMT rule, its economic rise, the transition to democracy, and social movements such as feminism, LGBTQ rights, and environmental activism.
Using interdisciplinary methods, students will reflect on Taiwan’s vibrant culture and complex politics today. As the architecture of the global order shifts, students will have a close-up view of a young democracy and its many challenges. Based in Taipei, students will visit cultural and historical sites, with excursions to Kinmen, Tainan and Alishan. Language instruction will be offered at different levels, and students will have the opportunity to engage with local activists, artists and scholars.
This course fulfills the Historical Analysis (HA) or Social Analysis (SA) general education requirement. It also counts towards the major and minor in history and the major and minor in East Asian studies.