عنوان

Taiwan's economic diplomacy and southward policy in the 1990s

Number

TLets412841

Title Proper

Taiwan's economic diplomacy and southward policy in the 1990s

General Material Designation

[Thesis]

First Statement of Responsibility

Liaw, Booker Fann-Bey

Name of Publisher, Distributor, etc.

University of Warwick

Date of Publication, Distribution, etc.

2004

Dissertation or thesis details and type of degree

Ph.D.

Body granting the degree

University of Warwick

Text preceding or following the note

2004

Text of Note

The thesis contributes to the development of a theoretical framework of economic diplomacy by employing 'levels of analysis' proposed by Hollis and Smith. In order to assess Taiwan's economic diplomacy, three levels of analysis are employed: changes in the international system, contradictory decision-making at the government level, and the efforts of political elites and business networks. Only this neutral heuristic tool can analyse the roles of Taiwanese business people and the role of the Taipei government in the post-Cold War era. The author analyses Taiwan's diplomacy from an economic perspective, thereby making up for the insufficiencies of those conventional approaches which have tended to focus exclusively on the political and military dimensions. The central theory that Hollis and Smith choose is Neorealism because it serves best the interlinking function between international system and states. In so doing, I also want to dig deeper and improve Neorealism, by modifying the level of international system to incorporate both the level of state and the level of individual. After I enrich 'levels of analysis' by emphasising the roles of Taiwanese business people in Taiwan's economic diplomacy, this thesis, therefore, makes substantial contributions to international relations as a discipline beyond the account of Hollis and Smith. Viewed from the bottom up, explanations in terms of the decisions and actions of Taiwanese business people seek understand their influence on the international political economy beyond Taiwan per se. Taiwanese investment in China has since relaxed tension across the Taiwan Straits. Investment by Taiwanese business people has made it easier for the Taiwanese government to enter into formal relationships with countries in Southeast Asia. In addition, Taiwanese business people have retained research and development in businesses in Taiwan. Taiwanese business people also promote régionalisation and globalisation in East Asia. They have been proactive, independent rather than at the beck and call of the Taipei government, and have even put pressure on the government to change its policy to permit cross-Straits trade. They serve as pioneers, surrogates, intermediaries and hindrances in Taiwan's economic diplomacy. In general, Taiwanese business people play a major role in Taiwan's economic diplomacy, while the Taipei government plays but an auxiliary role in the field.

HC Economic History and Conditions

Liaw, Booker Fann-Bey

University of Warwick

Electronic name

p

[Thesis]

276903

a

Y