Publisher's Synopsis
Wealth and freedom have been goals of statesmen throughout the 20th century and they have been achieved more nearly in Taiwan than in any other Chinese state system in world history. Taiwan is today one of the wealthiest nations. It is the word?s 14th largest trading state, has the third largest foreign reserves and is the sixth largest outbound investor. - - Fifty years ago Taiwan was one of the poorest nations and its people suffered under martial law for forty years, governed by an authoritarian, Leninist, party-state. Today Taiwan is one of Asia?s freest states. Opposition parties contest government policy and may soon displace the Kuominyang regime. Taiwan has a free press and critics of the regime do not face arrest. - - This book explores Taiwan?s transition from poverty to affluence in less than fifty years (its economic miracle) and its transition from authoritarianism to democracy in ten years (its political miracle). It does so by examining the interrelationship between economy and policy. It points to some negative consequences of the conjunction of wealth and power: increases in pollution, in social disorder and in what the Chinese call 'black and gold politics' (influence of organized crime and the super-rich in politics). - - The book also chronicles the positive consequences, such as the impact of political decentralization ? and open politics, where groups and interests freely apply pressure on decision-making ? in combating the increasing concentration of economic power. The conflict between the differing directions of economic and political change increase the vibrance and tension in Taiwan?s society. - - The author has studied Taiwan?s development for thirty years and has witnessed the growth of Taiwan?s democratization. His comprehensive analysis is certain to inform the discussion about Taiwan?s domestic political economy and the role Taiwan plays in the changing East Asian order.
