Middle-Class Crisis in the Colonization Transition: Comparing Catalysts and Consequences in Taiwan, 1988-2008
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University of Kentucky UKnowledge Theses and Dissertations--Sociology Sociology 2012 MIDDLE-CLASS CRISIS IN THE COLONIZATION TRANSITION: COMPARING CATALYSTS AND CONSEQUENCES IN TAIWAN, 1988-2008 Jui-Chang Jao University of Kentucky, [email protected] Right click to open a feedback form in a new tab to let us know how this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Jao, Jui-Chang, "MIDDLE-CLASS CRISIS IN THE COLONIZATION TRANSITION: COMPARING CATALYSTS AND CONSEQUENCES IN TAIWAN, 1988-2008" (2012). Theses and Dissertations--Sociology. 9. https://uknowledge.uky.edu/sociology_etds/9 This Doctoral Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Sociology at UKnowledge. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations--Sociology by an authorized administrator of UKnowledge. For more information, please contact [email protected]. STUDENT AGREEMENT: I represent that my thesis or dissertation and abstract are my original work. Proper attribution has been given to all outside sources. I understand that I am solely responsible for obtaining any needed copyright permissions. I have obtained and attached hereto needed written permission statements(s) from the owner(s) of each third-party copyrighted matter to be included in my work, allowing electronic distribution (if such use is not permitted by the fair use doctrine). I hereby grant to The University of Kentucky and its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible my work in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I agree that the document mentioned above may be made available immediately for worldwide access unless a preapproved embargo applies. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of my work. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of my work. I understand that I am free to register the copyright to my work. REVIEW, APPROVAL AND ACCEPTANCE The document mentioned above has been reviewed and accepted by the student’s advisor, on behalf of the advisory committee, and by the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS), on behalf of the program; we verify that this is the final, approved version of the student’s dissertation including all changes required by the advisory committee. The undersigned agree to abide by the statements above. Jui-Chang Jao, Student Dr. Rosalind P. Harris, Major Professor Dr. Shaunna Scott, Director of Graduate Studies MIDDLE-CLASS CRISIS IN THE COLONIZATION TRANSITION: COMPARING CATALYSTS AND CONSEQUENCES IN TAIWAN, 1988-2008 DISSERTATION A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Kentucky By Jui-Chang Jao Lexington, Kentucky Co-Directors: Dr. Rosalind P. Harris, Professor of Sociology and Dr. Thomas Janoski, Professor of Sociology Lexington, Kentucky Copyright © Jui-Chang Jao 2012 ABSTRACT OF DISSERTATION MIDDLE-CLASS CRISIS IN THE COLONIZATION TRANSITION: COMPARING CATALYSTS AND CONSEQUENCES IN TAIWAN, 1988-2008 The Taiwanese middle class has experienced two waves of crisis over the past three decades in the context of a colonization transition involving globalization and democratization as primary catalysts. On the economic front, Taiwan’s economy has become increasingly integrated into the Chinese market, resulting approximately one million of the Taiwanese middle class relocating to China. Moreover, neoliberal economic reforms have led to a downsized state sector of the Taiwanese economy. These economic changes affect the growth and stability of the Taiwanese middle class. Meanwhile, on the political front, an ongoing democratic consolidation and decolonization efforts have brought about significant political changes in Taiwan that have deepened Taiwanese nationalism. While economic and political processes appear to be opposite, however, in reality they have been mutually reinforcing, causing increasingly differentiated middle class. The political economy dynamics conditioned in a colonial context suggest that the swing voters of a differentiated middle class play a pivotal role in determining electoral outcomes, and electoral outcomes reshape the differentiated middle class. KEYWORDS: Third wave democratization, Globalization, Middle class, Colonialism and decolonization, China threat. Jui-Chang Jao Student’s Signature July 30, 2012 Date MIDDLE-CLASS CRISIS IN THE COLONIZATION TRANSITION: COMPARING CATALYSTS AND CONSEQUENCES IN TAIWAN, 1988-2008 By Jui-Chang Jao Rosalind P. Harris, Ph.D Co-Director of Dissertation Thomas Janoski, Ph.D Co-Director of Dissertation Shaunna Scott, Ph.D Director of Graduate Studies July 30, 2012 I dedicate this dissertation to my wife, Jennifer ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The idea for this dissertation has been in my mind for some twenty years. I am grateful to many people for help, both direct and indirect, in writing this dissertation. First of all, I would like to express my deep gratitude and sincere appreciation to Dr. Rosalind P. Harris and Dr. Thomas Janoski, my dissertation advisory co-chairs, for their very insightful advice, constant guidance, patient assistance throughout my graduate studies and in the preparation and revision of this dissertation. During my dissertation writing period, Dr. Harris and Dr. Janoski provided me continued inspiration and friendly encouragement. Without their invaluable support and generous help, I would have been lost and the accomplishment of this dissertation would have been impossible. My deep gratitude and sincere appreciation are also extended to Dr. Karen A. Mingst and Dr. Matthew McKeever, who served on my dissertation committee, for their valuable suggestions and useful comments. I am also indebted to Dr. Larry Burmeister, my previous dissertation committee chair. During the early stage of my dissertation- writing period, Larry served as a mentor, providing his enthusiasm, inspiration, and support to help me clarify and nurture ideas for this dissertation. My warm thankfulness and appreciation are also addressed to Dr. Patrick Mooney, the chair of the department of sociology, Dr. Shaunna Scott, the director of graduate study, and other faculty members, for their kindness, encouragement, and support to help me accomplish my academic goal. This dissertation is dedicated in sincere appreciation and gratitude to my parents and sisters. I wish to thank them for providing me a loving environment for me. Finally, I wish to thank my dearest wife Jennifer for her endless love, and to her I dedicate this dissertation. iii Data analyzed in this study were collected by the research project “the Taiwan Social Change Survey” (TSCS), conducted by the institute of sociology of Academia Sinica, and the research project “Taiwan’s Election and Democratization Study” (TEDS), conducted by Election Research Center of the National Chengchi University. I am grateful to the assistance in providing data by the institutes aforementioned. The views expressed herein are my own. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT iii List of Tables ix List of Figures xi List of Acronyms and Abbreviations xii Chapter 1: Introduction ...................................................................................................... 1 Statement of the problem ..................................................................................... 3 Focus of this study................................................................................................ 6 Significance of this study ................................................................................... 11 Theoretical concerns .......................................................................................... 16 Research framework ........................................................................................... 22 Historical comparative methods ......................................................................... 23 Survey research, election data and methods....................................................... 27 Conclusion .......................................................................................................... 37 Chapter 2: Constructing Theories of the Middle-Class Crisis .......................................... 39 The middle class conceptions in sociology ........................................................ 40 Middle-class crisis: an academic fiction or a social fact .................................... 47 The Marxist approach: squeezing middle class thesis ....................................... 52 The Weberian approach: fluctuating status groups ............................................ 67 Cultural politics approach: anomie, functionalism and colonialism .................. 81 Summary ............................................................................................................ 92 Chapter 3: Background to the Colonial Crisis of the Taiwan State ................................. 95 The KMT occupation and Taiwan’s uncertain status......................................... 96 From one colonial power to another ................................................................ 101 Recolonization and the dilemma of the overdeveloped colonial state ............. 109 Development projects and credits .................................................................... 117 v The problem of the developmental state .......................................................... 127 The schizophrenia of the transplanted state ....................................................