Why Taiwan Matters ─ Small Island, Global Powerhouse

Written by a leading expert on Taiwan, Why Taiwan Matters offers a comprehensive and engaging introduction to a country that exercises a role in the world far greater than its tiny size would indicate. Shelley Rigger explains how Taiwan became such a key global player, highlighting economic and political breakthroughs so impressive they have been called "miracles." She links these accomplishments to Taiwan's determined society, vibrant culture, and unique history. Drawing on arts, economics, politics, and international relations, Rigger explores Taiwan's importance to China, the United States, and the world. Considering where Taiwan may be headed in its wary standoff with China, she traces how the focus of Taiwan's domestic politics has shifted to a Taiwan-centered strategy. All readers interested in Asia and international affairs, as well as travelers to the region, will find this an accessible and entertaining overview, replete with human interest stories and colorful examples of daily life in Taiwan.

A leading authority on Taiwan, Shelley Rigger is Brown Professor of East Asian Politics at Davidson College in North Carolina. She earned a PhD in government from Harvard University and has been studying and visiting Taiwan for nearly three decades. She has been a visiting researcher at Chengchi University in Taipei and a visiting professor at Fudan University in Shanghai. She is the author of two books and numerous articles on Taiwan's politics and cross-Strait relations and consults for the U.S. government on East Asian national security issues.