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A Word From Our Project Director
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Welcome to the first edition of the NTNU International Taiwan Studies Centre (ITSC) Newsletter!
Here at NTNU we meet so many fantastic researchers who come from all over the world, researching different areas and aspects of Taiwan, contributing both their expertise and ground breaking discoveries to the field of Taiwan Studies.
While Taiwan Studies has already become a globally established discipline, here in the academic heartland of Taiwan, ITSC has a responsibility to network the ‘world’ of Taiwan Studies even more closely. We aim to become a point of connection, a hub that can link many of the international Taiwan Studies Centres and Programmes together, facilitating research collaboration, teaching exchange and encouraging the sustainable growth and maturing of Taiwan Studies as an academic discipline.
We welcome suggestions, contributions and if you know of other researchers who may be interested to receive this mailing, please don’t hesitate to pass on the link.
Step two will be a brand new podcast, but more about that in our next issue.
Happy reading and we look forward to receiving many of you as guests here in Taiwan this year.
Nikky Lin
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Introduction to NTNU's
International Taiwan Studies Centre |
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The International Taiwan Studies Center (ITSC) at NTNU was established in 2009 in order to integrate domestic and international research on Taiwan.
In 2023, we launched a new ITSC project to expand our work, bringing together professors from leading Taiwanese and international universities to foster collaboration and develop theoretical and practical frameworks for 'Taiwan Studies' globally. Our researchers contribute uniquely to the field, and a steady stream of visiting academics also share their latest research with our community. In this way, we are dedicated to consolidating Taiwan-related knowledge and strengthening the connection between domestic and international Taiwan Studies.
As we strive to better connect, serve and resource teachers and students who’s research relates to Taiwan, wherever they are in the world, it is our hope that this new quarterly newsletter can become a key information point for all who are engaged in Taiwan Studies. On that note, we strongly encourage interaction, so please do get in touch with us, let us know what is happening in your field of Taiwan Studies, be it events, research projects, books, teaching courses or even new vacancies and together we can network this fascinating field even more closely. 加油！(Josh Edbrooke, editor) |
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Newsletter Contents:
- Latest news from NTNU - ITSC
- Introduction to another Taiwan Studies Centre from overseas
- Introduction to recent publications from the field of Taiwan Studies
- Upcoming Taiwan Studies-related events around the world
- Recommended teaching resources
- Final invitation to connect with us
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Here at NTNU ITSC
As we prepare to send this email, NTNU’s ITSC has just concluded the '13th International Symposium on Taiwan Culture,' focussing on the 400 years of history connecting the Netherlands with Taiwan. Entitled 'Global Interactions in the Sinophone World: Reflecting on Coast, Company and Cultural Commemoration,' the three day event brought scholars from all over the world to share their research around these themes and it served as a showcase for the way in which ITSC is indeed linking the field of Taiwan Studies and further encouraging collaboration and expansion.
The opening ceremony took place on May 30th with a speech from Ann Heylan, a keynote address from Martijn Manders, presentations and discussions throughout the day, culminating in a book launch 'Since 1624 - Taiwanese Dutch Connections.' There was then a fabulous Bunan banquet in the evening which featured a memorable performance from Amis singer Usay Panan Sadipongan!
Keynote speeches on May 31st and June 1st from Shunya Yoshimi and Alexander Adelaar were also highlights and it was exciting to hear about research from scholars that is making a difference not just in Taiwan, but in many other parts of the world too. We look forward to future events where we can welcome many more of you to Taiwan and to NTNU!
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Interview with Dr Dafydd Fell and
Dr Chang Bi-Yu about their Experiences
at the SOAS Centre of Taiwan Studies
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In this edition, our first overseas introduction is to one of the most established Taiwan Study Centres in the world, the SOAS Centre of Taiwan Studies (CTS). Our editor was honoured to interview Dr Dafydd Fell and Dr Chang Bi-Yu, gaining insights into the journey that SOAS CTS has been on, how they have developed, consolidated and matured, as well as challenges they have faced. We’re sure that their experience and advice will be beneficial to other centres who are following in their footsteps.
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At the moment there are around 40 Taiwan Study Centres based in Universities all around the world. Do you feel this is a reflection of the growing relevance of Taiwan Studies?
Does this reflect great potential for the field to grow in size, depth and also sustainability? |
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Dr Fell:
The rise in the number of international programmes and centres with a focus on Taiwan over the last 15 years is remarkable. It’s encouraging to see that most have managed to survive and expand over time. They also have been quite diverse in the kinds of themes they cover and their models of operation. There clearly is a growing interest in Taiwan in Europe and North America and this has contributed to the field’s growth and its greater diversity.
Naturally many of the centres are fragile, as they are reliant on one or two individuals and often short term funding. This has been a long-term challenge but even the SOAS programme started on a similar model and has been able to become more institutionalised over time.
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Dr Chang:
When I began my PhD in the 1990s, there were very few academics in the UK interested in Taiwan, and English-language resources on the topic were also scarce. Academic interest in Taiwan first emerged in the 1980s due to its economic miracle, followed by its democratisation in the 1990s. Initially, Taiwan was often referenced in relation to China. However, over the last three decades, we have witnessed considerable progress. The interest in Taiwan studies in recent years has shifted towards its liberal democracy, freedom, and multiculturalism.
Nevertheless, it remains to be seen whether this growth truly reflects the field's increasing relevance and strength. The current prosperity can be attributed partly to scholars' efforts, Taiwanese funding initiatives, heightened Western interest, and possibly, a growing suspicion about China. |
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Having said that, why is it that with over 40 centres globally, SOAS is still the only institution that offers a ‘Taiwan Studies’ masters programme outside Taiwan?
How have you been able to sustain the 'Ma Taiwan Studies' course over so many years in the face of pressure from Universities to consolidate resources and funnel students into more mainstream programs?
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Recent Publication in the Field
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Taiwan Lives
A Social and Political History
Niki J. P. Alsford
Special Intro From the Author
I wrote Taiwan Lives with a deep-seated desire to amplify the voices and experiences of the countless individuals that I have encountered throughout my journey, whether living in person or within archives and private collections. My inspiration stemmed from a profound belief in the power of a people’s history to illuminate the complexities of a nation’s identity and the struggles it has faced over time. In crafting Taiwan Lives, I envisioned myself as an archaeologist excavating layers of history, piecing together fragments of stories, memories, and struggles from the depths of time. |
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Each chapter is akin to unearthing a new archaeological site, revealing hidden treasures of insight and understanding about Taiwan’s past and present. What is more, my motivation to write this book stems from a deep-seated belief in the importance of reclaiming and preserving the diverse narratives of Taiwan’s inhabitants, much like preserving artifacts from an archaeological dig. By excavating these narratives and bringing them to light, I aimed to showcase the resilience and richness of Taiwan’s cultural heritage, while also shedding light on the ongoing journey towards self-determination and sovereignty. Just as an archaeologist meticulously uncovers and interprets artifacts to reconstruct the past, Taiwan Lives seeks to uncover and interpret the stories that have shaped Taiwan’s identity, offering readers a deeper appreciation of its complex history and the aspirations of its peoples.
The book offers a sweeping exploration of... |
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NATSA 2024 Annual Conference: Taiwan Studies Matters: Worlding the Contested Frontier
The 2024 conference will mark the 30th anniversary of NATSA. We would like to take this opportunity to assess both the accomplishments and challenges of Taiwan Studies – a young and vibrant field open to definition, transformation, and imagination.
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SOAS Centre of Taiwan Studies
Summer School 2024
The SOAS Centre of Taiwan Studies is excited to present a 3-day Summer School programme filled with engaging talks, seminars, and roundtables between 26–28 June 2024.
For the Conference Schedule, Details and Registration, Click Here
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International Journal of Taiwan Studies -
Call For Abstracts
New Perspectives on Maritime Taiwan
Please send an abstract of no more than 500 words and a 150-word short author bio to this address before July 15th, 2024, for consideration of inclusion in the topical section: portcitiesconference@gmail.com
More details available here
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European Association of Taiwan Studies Conference 2025 - call for papers:
More info here
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The 2025 Young Scholar Award call for papers:
More info here
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Application for The Taiwan Fellowship (closing on June 30th 2024).
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Useful Teaching Resources
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TaiwanPlus Interview Palau President
For any who are teaching about Taiwan’s international relations, the complexities of diplomatic recognition and competition with China in this sphere, this interview with the President of Palau is incredibly enlightening. Talking with TaiwanPlus’ Divya Gopalan for the ‘Connected’ program, he spells out the measures that China have used to try (unsuccessfully so far) to lure Palau away from Taiwan towards the PRC. Undergraduate or Post-Graduate students will no doubt be attracted by the living, up-to-date and candid nature of the interview.
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Dr Scott Simon on President Lai's Inauguration Speech
Professor at the School of Sociological and Anthropological Studies, University of Ottawa, Dr Scott Simon, discusses the contents of President Lai Ching-te's inauguration speech on May 20th. He draws out some of the key points where Lai differed from his predecessors, as well as analysing what the response of grass roots indigenous activists could be to the speech.
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‘TransTaiwan: A Research Gateway to Taiwan Studies’ (TARGTS)
Dr Isabelle Cockel from the University of Portsmouth, Secretary-General of European Association of Taiwan Studies introduces - ‘TransTaiwan: A Research Gateway to Taiwan Studies’ (TARGTS).
It stands as a testament to the kind of collaborative excellence typical of the field of Taiwan Studies. Supported by funding from the Chiang Ching-kuo Foundation spanning from July 2021 to June 2023, TARGTS represents a high point for cooperation among Taiwan studies entities. With EATS as the leading association, the International Journal of Taiwan Studies, the North American Taiwan Studies Association (NATSA) and the Association of Taiwan Literature came together for this new initiative. Launching its online platform at targts.net, TARGTS now provides more than 700 annotated bibliographies of Taiwan studies journal articles.
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No.162, Heping E. Rd. Sec. 1, Taipei City 106308, Taiwan |
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