Taiwanese Development Model
Taiwanese Development ModelAccording to Thomas Gold Taiwan offers a text book case of an
elite-led revolution leading to social transformation. The stability
of hard authoritarianism of the Taiwanese government laid the
groundwork for Taiwanese development. The KMT's cohesiveness and
political domination plus the economic development aid supplied by the
United States also helped to provide good conditions for Taiwanese
growth in the beginning. Once the KMT gained control of Taiwan they
redistributed the land and launched a program of rehabilitation and
industrialization. This period was responsible for the nationalization
of many businesses formerly owned by the Japanese and the start of
industrial production in Taiwan marked by a shift away from
agriculture to industry. During the early period of industrialization
Taiwan tried to create domestic markets for its goods. During
the period from 1960 to 1973 Taiwan pursued export expansion in the
area of industrial goods. During this period U.S. aid directed at
Taiwan declined as did the islands geopolitical significance. To make
up for this decline Taiwan focused on increasing its exports. The
growth of the Taiwanese economy during this period according to Gold
laid the ground work for the growth of opposition movements and
loosening of the KMT"S grip on power. According to Gold this was
because the changes in the Taiwanese economy brought about a middle
class, a better educated populace, and a dispersion of industry
through out the country. The Period from 1973 to 1984 Gold calls the
time of industrial upgrading and the emergence of a political
opposition. During this period Taiwan faced the oil shock, and
increase in export prices due to a labor shortage that doubled workers
salaries, a further loss of geopolitical prestige, and the growth of
dissent and political opposition. Taiwan industrially during this time
improved the quality and quantity of its exports.
The Taiwan industrial model was that of a elite run
bureaucracy that tightly controlled its nations citizenry in
authoritarian ways. This authoritarian government was...
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