Taiwan's Dependency

It is said that imperialism is usually more beneficial for the "imperialist" than the "imperialized" (p 381). In this type of relationship, between two or more countries, "the poverty of the poor nations is exacerbated and often caused by their economic relations with more powerful countries" (p 381). Imperialism often involves a dependent country that becomes increasingly more poor as it gets to be more dependent. Apparently, upon initial glance, Taiwan seems to be a "paradox" with regard to imperialism. As Hill Gates writes about in her article titled "Dependency and the Part - time Proletariat in Taiwan," Taiwan's dependency on more powerful nations provides a unique case for one to examine. Although Taiwan is dependent on the United States' and Japan's "trade, military, and financial inputs,"  they have also "industrialized reasonably rapidly" and "produce(ed) the second highest living standard in Asia" (p 381). It seems as if Taiwan transcends and contrasts the natural system of functioning, within "dependency theory" (p 382). It could be said that this is because of the country's productivity levels. Taiwan has also maintained, according to Samuel P.S. Ho, a "unique relationship with two of the world's most dynamic economies" and this is definitely "one of the strategic reasons" for its "success" (p 383). This relationship included a "government willingness to promote capitalism" (p 382). Rather than celebrate what seams like a positive for Taiwan, Gates claims that the negative aspects of the dependent relationship are just better hidden. 

In order to look deeper into this situation, Hill Gates examines and talks about the class system in Taiwan. She says that there are five main social classes in Taiwan. The classes that are the focus of this article, are the new middle class and the last/ poor group, which makes up for just above 5% of the population. Gates describes the new middle class as "the class most of Taiwan's movies, fiction, and TV shows portray"(p 393). She also claims that this is the class whose "interests lie with big capitalism and the government that nourishes it" (p 393). Unfortunately, this middle class is exploited in Taiwan, as the nation "has not proceed(ed)… far in its capitalist and technological development" (p 392). Taiwan does not have a handle on the ways of capitalism, which it is supposedly benefiting from. Gates goes into describing the middle class even further, when she compares it to an "exploited petty bourgeoisie, whose most important product is cheap laborers, the distortion of the development of the industrial proletariat as a class, and the encouragement of reactionary familism and ageism" (p 405). Because of this situation with the middle class, there will be debt for the future generations. Although imperialism seems to be positive in Taiwan on a surface level, as Gates points out, the negative aspects are just better hidden. Taiwan has not successfully mastered functioning, while relating to capitalist systems. Although it may seem like they are benefiting from the countries they are dependent on, this relationship is creating a future for them that involves debt and more dependence. Unfortunately, Taiwan's dependency may not be a unique case after all.  

Work Cited

Gates, Hill. 1979. "Dependency and the Part-time Proletariat in Taiwan." Modern China 5 (3): 381 - 408.

Working for the Group

In his article, "Why Do the Chinese Work So Hard? : Reflections on an Entrepreneurial Ethic," author Steven Harrell examines the stereotype of Chinese people being exceptionally hard workers. He provides many examples to reinforce this stereotype, many of which are specific to Taiwan. Harrell talks about his field trips to Ploughshare and how they revealed the stereotype of relentless hard work to be true. Ploughshare is "a village of industrial workers, miners, and small entrepreneurs in northern Taiwan"(p 203). During one of his trips there, Harrell was "lectured" by a local man, who claimed that "Taiwanese people, I think everybody knows, are the most hard - working in the world. You won't find any people anywhere, not you Americans or Japanese or anybody else, who is willing to work as hard as we do, and who does work as hard as we do" (p 203). This statement was supported by the fact that there were knitting workers within the village, who worked from early in the morning, all the way until midnight.  Another example that shows the the truth of the tireless worker stereotype, is provided by Norma Diamond, who talks about the fishing community on the Southwestern Coast of Taiwan. She claims that "the most crucial positive trait that the adult individual must show is the willingness to work hard and make maximal use of work time" (p 206). People who don't believe in this are criticized and referred to as being child - like. Harrell provides many examples that shows the Chinese/ Taiwanese do indeed work hard but the question remains, why do they do this?

There are many reasons why hard work is valued and tirelessly conducted. One of them includes socialization. The Chinese / Taiwanese are socialized to think positively about hard work. An example of this is given in the article, when Harrell mentions a study conducted on a group of middle - school Taiwanese boys. In this study, the students all rated work as one of the highest priorities. This is truly because a positive outlook towards work is "socialized into people very early" (p211). This value system is deeply embedded into the culture. When the Taiwanese knitting workers described why they worked so hard, they claimed simply that "there was that much work to be done" (p 204). Another reason why the Chinese / Taiwanese work so hard is because they are looking forward to a time when they have earned their freedom or time off from their service.  They are very motivated by this incentive. "Group orientation" is also a reason why so much hard work is conducted and it is very important (p 217). The people will work hard "for a group with which they identify" (p 217). This is a very interesting fact that supports the stereotype, which this article is focused on.

Although Stevan Harrell spends much of the article attempting to show the opposite side of the stereotype/ the people who do not believe in hard work, his idea about "group orientation" might be the most striking. This concept is what makes the Chinese / Taiwanese work ethic so unique. Working for the benefit of a group is a concept mostly foreign to the West, where the idea of individuality is heavily romanticized. This concept of working for the good of the collective is something that is beneficial to Taiwan specifically. If this ethic is perpetually believed in and followed, Taiwan can continue to develop positively as its own independent entity. Although stereotypes are often viewed as being simplistic and necessary to overcome, the label of "group orientated" hard workers, is surely a positive one to maintain.  

Work Cited

Harrell, Stevan. 1985. "Why Do the Chinese Work so Hard? Reflections on an Entrepreneurial Ethic." Modern China 11 (2) : 203 - 226.