In five decades, Taiwan has shifted from an authoritarian regime to a multi-party democracy, has moved steadily toward modernization, and has become an economically affluent, socially pluralistic society. Its experience provides valuable lessons for developing countries. This book offers a critical assessment of Taiwan's path to modernization, focusing particularly on developments of constitutional democracy and the rule of law, democratic transition and consolidation, internationalization and globalization, and social developments. From its market economy to its democratization, Taiwan provides a valuable case study. On social developments, it provides a unique model of demographic transition, rising women's social status, and the emergence of the nuclear family. In eighteen chapters written by prominent scholars, this book examines the multiple aspects of Taiwan's modernization in a global perspective.

Thomas J. Bellows, professor of political science at the University of Texas at San Antonio Steve Chan is professor of political science at the University of Colorado (Boulder) Edward I. Chen is professor emeritus at Bowling Green State University in Ohio Tun-Jen Cheng is professor of political science in the Department of Government, College of William and Mary Peter C. Y. Chow is professor of economics at the City College and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York Yun-Han Chu is professor of political science at National Taiwan University Cal Clark is Alumni Professor of political science at Auburn University Spenser Y. C. Hor is an associate professor of law at Chinese Culture University Law School in Taipei, Taiwan Jau-Yuan Hwang is associate professor of law at the National Taiwan University Law School Fort Fu-Te Liao is an assistant research fellow in the Institute of European and American Studies, Academia Sinica, Taiwan Kuang-Sheng Liao is professor and chairman of the Department of Government and Public Administration at National Kaohsiung University in Taiwan Chia-Lung Lin is an assistant professor of political science at National Chung Cheng University and a senior advisor to the National Security Council of Taiwan Hui-Sheng Lin is Director of the Center for Population and Health Survey Research, Bureau of Health Promotion, Department of Health, Taiwan Robert M. Marsh is professor emeritus of sociology at Brown University Shelley Rigger is Brown Associate Professor of East Asian Politics at Davidson College in North Carolina Robert A. Scalapino is Robson Research Professor of Government Emeritus at the University of California, Berkeley Wen-Hui Tsai is professor of sociology at Indiana University-Purdue University at Fort Wayne Wen-Yeu Wang is an associate professor of law at the College of Law, National Taiwan University Jane K. Winn is a professor of law at Dedman Law School, Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas Jiunn-Rong Yeh is a professor of law at National Taiwan University Law School Chin-Chun Yi is a research fellow at the Institute of Sociology, Academia Sinica, Taiwan. She also teaches at the National Taiwan University Jimmy Chi-Min Yu is an assistant professor of law at Soochow University Law School in Taipei, Taiwan