Globalizing Taipei: The Political Economy of Spatial Development

Taipei's quest to become a global city, which began in the 1960's, is the city's urban development.Globalizing Taipeireveals how the development of this capital of an Asian Dragon, key city in the South China Growth Triangle, and center for transnational production, has received firm state support, but is conditioned by international and domestic politics. Divided into four parts -- economic and spatial restructuring, state and society realignment, social differentiation, and cultural reorientation -- the book analyses the interaction of international, state and local politics in the shaping of the city's urban environment from the Second World War to the present day. All the contributors to this edited volume, except the editor, are Taiwan scholars, presenting the critical insiders' views for Taiwan. Based on each author's specialization and research interest, each chapter provides an in-depth analyses of one of Taipei's developmental issues generated by globalization. Collectively, theyprovide a broad, insightful and coherent coverage of this crucial era of Taipei's global transition.