Course Information
ASST 3325/GOV 3448
3+1 Credit
Dates:
March 1, 2025 to March 9, 2025
Description:
As part of the Spring 2025 “Politics of Taiwan” undergraduate seminar, students will travel to Taiwan over spring break to better understand the island’s authoritarian past, its democratic transition, and political participation. Students will have opportunities to visit historical sites and interact with civil society organizations as well as Taiwanese college students and professors. They will deepen and contextualize their knowledge of history and political science theory, and they will carry out research on such topics as political parties, civil society, transitional justice, and political identity. Upon their return to Georgetown, they will prepare a public event on Taiwanese democracy, during which they will present their own research and moderate expert-informed discussion about the lessons Taiwan might offer to countries struggling to preserve and consolidate democratic achievements.
Taiwan is a small but significant place that holds outsize importance in the global economy and international affairs. Western media has described the Taiwan Strait as the “most dangerous place in the world” because of the potential for U.S.-China conflict over who controls the island. China’s claims to sovereignty are emphatic, and yet the Chinese Communist Party has never ruled Taiwan. The United States, for its part, de-recognized the Republic of China government based in Taipei in 1979, as part of its diplomatic opening to Beijing, but it has maintained unofficial relations with Taiwan for decades. After Taiwan began its transition to democracy in the late 1980s, the United States became more invested in preserving the island’s de facto independence based on shared political values. Today, Taiwan boasts one of the freest and most transparent democracies in Asia. And despite democratic backsliding in many countries across the world, in addition to constant interference by mainland China intended to undermine the political system, Taiwan’s democracy has survived. The historical, theoretical, and practical implications of this case study should be of great interest to students concerned about democratic governance, whether that be in Asia, the United States, or more globally.
Professor Information
Kristen Looney is an associate professor of Asian Studies and Government at Georgetown University, where she teaches courses on Chinese and Comparative Politics. Her research is on rural development and governance. Dr. Looney has previously published her research in World Politics, The China Quarterly, The China Journal, and Current History, among other outlets. She is part of the Public Intellectuals Program (PIP) of the National Committee on US-China Relations (2023-2025) and is a former Wilson China Fellow (2022-2023). Her research has been supported by the Wilson Center, the Chiang Ching-Kuo Foundation, the National Science Foundation, the Fulbright-Hays Program, the Blakemore Foundation, and the Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowships Program.
Itinerary Highlights
228 Peace Memorial Park; Presidential Office; Red House/Ximending; Bopiliao; National Taiwan University; Tonghua Night Market; Hualien; Hsin-chu; guest lectures
Travel Details
The Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service (SFS) will cover the costs of travel and accommodation including airfare, lodging (double occupancy hotel), transportation for the company visits, some meals, site visit entry fees, and tips for all undergraduate students accepted to this C-Lab.
Students are responsible for covering tuition & fees, books/materials for the classes, any related visa costs requirements, any immunizations, Covid-19 or other testing (if required), GU international health insurance ($65), some miscellaneous meals, laundry, phone and data charges, transportation to/from the airport to campus, and any out-of-pocket personal expenses. We estimate a cost of $300-700.
Visas, if required, cost $25-$125 on average for application and processing fees. It is students’ responsibility to research requirements and secure visas if needed. Travel information will be covered further in pre-departure sessions for accepted students.
As of Fall 2024, US passport holders do not need visa for short term entry of Taiwan.
If you do not have a valid passport or a passport that will be unexpired for 6 months following return from the program, please apply for a passport now.