Fragments Of An Unfinished War

Originally published in French in 2013 by aEditions Karthala, Paris.

The Republic of China that retreated to Taiwan in 1949 maintains its de facto, if not de jure, independence. Yet Beijing has consistently refused to abandon the idea of reunifying Taiwan with China. As well as growing military pressure, the PRC's irredentist policy is premised on encouraging cross-Strait economic integration. Responding to preferential measures, Taiwanese business people (Taishang) have invested massively in China and relocated their businesses there. Fragments of a nation torn apart by contradictory claims, these entrepreneurs are vectors of a new form of unification imposed by the Chinese Communist Party, promoted but postponed on the island by the Nationalist Party, and rejected by Taiwanese pro-independence parties.

The Republic of China that retreated to Taiwan in 1949 maintains its de facto, if not de jure, in- dependence yet Beijing has consistently refused formally to abandon the idea of reunifying Taiwan with China. As well as growing military pressure, the PRC's irredentist policy is premised on encouraging cross-Straits economic integration. Responding to preferential measures, Taiwanese industrialists have invested massively in the PRC, often relocating their businesses there. Fragments of a nation torn apart by contradictory claims, these entrepreneurs are vectors of a new form of unification imposed by the main- land, promoted but postponed on the island by the Nationalist Party, and rejected by Taiwanese pro-independence parties. Within what can be described as an unfinished civil war, socio-economic dynamics remain embedded in conflicts over sovereignty. Trans- national actors have freed themselves from security constraints, thereby benefiting economically from a reformist China, and ultimately restructuring politics in Taiwan itself, and, in so doing, relations between Beijing and Taipei. A fictitious depoliticization has governed the opening of the Sino-Taiwanese border in order to postpone any resolution of the sovereignty issue. Mengin's startlingly original book highlights the competing, and fragmented, elements within one of the world's most intractable territorial disputes.

This book examines the circumstances under which aid can contribute to the management and transformation of intra-state conflicts. How and when do insurgents govern? How does the presence of aid and social services influence how insurgents govern? Under what circumstances can aid contribute to the management and transformation of civil wars? The established literature in this area argues that aid exacerbates civil wars where resources are scarce as greedy rebels steal resources for themselves. This book, however, argues that under certain conditions such greed can be good. Drawing on primary research from three very different conflicts – Northern Ireland (1969–1998), southern Sudan (1983–2005) and Tajikistan (1992–1997) – and more than 10 years’ experience working in and researching humanitarian crises, this study breaks new ground through its wide-ranging comparison of conflicts. The book argues that insurgent efforts to reap rewards from aid and social services have in turn facilitated organizational changes and that these changes, while they may have had conflict-enhancing effects in the short term, have also contributed to conflict transformation over the long term. This book will be of much interest to students of insurgencies, civil wars, comparative politics, conflict management, humanitarian emergencies, public health and IR/Security Studies in general.

Mediation and negotiation, personal transformation, non-violent struggle in the community and the world: these behaviors – and their underlying values – underpin the United Nations’ definition of a culture of peace, and are crucial to the creation of such a culture. The Handbook on Building Cultures of Peace addresses this complex and daunting task by presenting an accessible blueprint for this development. Its perspectives are international and interdisciplinary, involving the developing as well as the developed world, with illustrations of states and citizens using peace-based values to create progress on the individual, community, national, and global levels. The result is both realistic and visionary, a prescription for a secure future.

"In the late nineteenth century, much of the southern region of what is today Sudan was considered ungovernable hinterland. Britain at this time had occupied the northern region (or Egypt), and treated the natives in southern Sudan as either savages or backward peoples. Its empire had reached new heights and stretched from Southeast Asia and the Middle East to northern parts of Africa. And there were now new "civilization standards" that defined the parameters of the 'civilized state', and that gave rise to agreements (e.g., at the 1885 Berlin Conference) which allowed it to assert administrative control over its occupied territories in Africa. Colonization had also propelled Britain's superior military technology and the need to draw on this advantage to extract raw materials for its rapidly industrializing economy. Morally, Britain saw itself as the civilizer or savior (of the backward natives), which, in helping to end much of the slave trade, was also bent on modernizing key parts of the region, i.e., improving education and roads"--

The Routledge Handbook of Contemporary Taiwan offers a comprehensive overview of both contemporary Taiwan and the Taiwan studies field. Each contribution summarises the major findings in the field and highlights long-term trends, recent observations and possible future developments in Taiwan. Written by an international team of experts, the chapters included in the volume form an accessible and fascinating insight into contemporary Taiwan. Up-to-date, interdisciplinary, and academically rigorous, the Handbook will be of interest to students, academics, policymakers and others in search of reliable information on Taiwanese politics, economics, culture and society.

There can be no doubt that China’s economic and political rise is having a stronger effect on Taiwan than on any other country, given the Chinese government’s claim to sovereignty over Taiwan, and Taiwan’s quest to maintain its democratic achievements and political identity as a sovereign state. Against this background, this volume deals with the ‘bigger picture’ of evolving relations across the Taiwan Strait, departing from the observation that China’s impact on Taiwan has become stronger over the last 20 years. This book analyses the ‘China impact’ on Taiwan in terms of its social, political and security space from both an empirical and conceptual point of view. It is the first comprehensive account of China’s multifaceted impact on the politics and society of contemporary Taiwan, written by renowned scholars from Taiwan, Europe and the U.S. The book covers a wide range of topics including Taiwan’s party alignment, elections, generational politics, cross-strait political economy, immigration policy and security. The contributors, political scientists and sociologists, highlight both the dangers and the opportunities of the ‘China impact’ for Taiwan and draw a realistic picture of the island republic’s current situation and future options in the shadow of its giant neighbour. Based on qualitative and quantitative data, this volume intends to fill a gap in the Taiwan studies field by studying the ‘China impact’ on Taiwan’s politics and society systematically and from a comparative perspective. By doing so, it will be of great interest to students and scholars of Taiwan studies, and East Asian politics and society more generally.