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. 

The Peaceful Approach of the Yami

In his article "The Yami of Koto-sho: A Japanese Colonial Experiment," Edmund Leach writes about a unique island people. The Yami, who inhabit the island of Koto-sho, are easy going, self sufficient and "extreme(ly)" (p 32) peaceful. To mariners who observe the island from afar, it looks like an "inhospitable rock in an increasingly storm ridden sea" (p 30). Even though outsiders mostly ignore Koto-sho and obviously do not know much about it, the Yami people's society functions smoothly and effectively. They are satisfied with the food on the island and find no other reason to reach out past their small piece of land. Yami are intentionally isolated and it works for them.

The Yami society functions smoothly and this becomes evident when the issue of food is in question. Their crops consist of taro, yams, millet and even though there is no wildlife on the island, their domestic livestock consist of goats, pigs and chickens (p 31). Generally, women tend to the agriculture and men do the fishing. The Yami people are mainly occupied by their need to gather food and the system they have developed, in terms of splitting up tasks, keeps them self-sufficient and functioning properly. Even though gathering food is considered an occupation, it is approached with a sense of ease and playfulness on the island. As Edmund Leach puts it, the Yami people make "no sharp distinction between work and play" (p 31). This is an interesting approach to work and certainly unique from a Western perspective. But maintaining this sense of satisfaction in regards to working and completing necessary tasks, allows the Yami people to be happily self - sufficient in their isolation.

The easy going Yami style shows up in all facets of their life. They do not see a reason to have chiefs or significant leaders in their society. There is an absence of dominant authority on the Koto-sho island. According to Leach, there is no reason for this because the people are so peaceful. The Yami people also see no need for money and function as a community despite the absence of currensy. The island is also free from constructs such as churches or temples. Their faith is mostly kept alive by imagination and ritual practices. Although schools do exist, they do not take away from the democratic/ equalist nature of the Yami. The children who attend school do not adopt "feelings of superiority" (p 37). It seems as if the Yami people are incapable of developing hierarchies even in a psychological sense.

Their approach to life, which is easygoing, peaceful and unquestionably rooted in equalism, is deeply internalized and allows them to function smoothly in their isolation. No outsider intervention is needed. The Yami people are not necessarily self - sufficient and satisfied with their way of life because of material reasons but rather an internal understanding, which allows them to be content in their situation. The Yami people live on a small island that may not seem like much to outsiders but to them, there is no urgent need for much more.


Work Cited


Leach, Edmund. 1937. "The Yami of Koto - sho: a Japanese Colonial Experiment." Geographical Magazine 5: 417 - 434.

Why Taiwan is Interesting on a National Level

Liminality as an anthropological concept refers to "the transitional

periods between two states of life" (p 52). A common example of this, is the

transition "between childhood and adulthood" (p 52). This is often referred to as a rite of passage. The concept of liminality guides Stephane Corcuff's article titled "The Liminality of Taiwan: A Case - Study in Geopolitics." In this article, Corcuff argues that the idea of liminality is relevant to the historic relations between Taiwan and China but not in a simple way. He states that the typical definition of liminality as a phase of transition is not completely useful in this case. Corcuff rather emphasizes the idea of liminality as a way of explaining a threshold. In the case of the relationship between China and Taiwan, "the larger entity," (p 55) although it is an undeniable influence on the smaller one, has never been able to fully consume it. This idea is just one of the many examples of how the connection between Taiwan and China is so complex. Stephan Corcuff stresses the concept of liminality throughout his article but he also raises the question of Taiwan's overall importance. Corcuff asks, why should Taiwan be of concern to anyone on a national level? Why is it interesting? He reveals the answer by explaining the complex relationship between Taiwan and China.

Taiwan is interesting precisely because of the complexities that exist in regards to its relations with China. In general, it has been difficult finding firm definitions in the matter. The historic connection between Taiwan and China can not be "identified and characterized" (p 43). As Stephane Corcuff put it, it as connection that is "neither this nor that" (p 43). Despite attempts at creating a complete definition, Corcuff believes that one can not be made. He gives the example of dependency theory and how it does not relate to this case. Although China has undoubtably had a great influence on Taiwan, full dependency does not exist. Taiwan is dependent on "Chinese manpower" for example, but it also "provides capital and high technology to China" (p 48). In the midst of the influence China has projected on the smaller country, Taiwanese culture has made its way into China as well. This is evident in the Taiwanese "way of life, including its pop music, food habits and delicacies, and some screen productions (films and entertainment)" (p 49) that has made its way into the Chinese cultural landscape. Stephane Corcuff proves that dependency theory does not define the relationship between Taiwan and China and that there can be no clear definition. This complexity is what makes Taiwan interesting, even on a national level. 

Work Cited

Corcuff, Stephane. 2012. "The Liminality of Taiwan: A Case - Study in Geopolitics." Taiwan in Comparative Perspective 4: 34 - 64. Online resource: https://www.google.ca/search?q=large+degree&rlz=1C5CHFA_enCA503CA503&oq=large+degree&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.1949j0j4&sourceid=chrome&espv=210&es_sm=91&ie=UTF-8#q=at+a+high+level+of+interest, last accessed January 13, 2013.