Written by Judy Lee. This article examines how emotions drive community formation among Hongkongers who migrated to Taiwan after 2019. Lee argues that these migrants channel feelings of grief and love for their home city into positive community engagement, cultural production, and education, illustrating how emotion fuels the diaspora.
Written by Josh Boynton. This article argues that Taiwan’s democratisation did more than just change how Taiwan was governed, but also allowed Taiwanese to publicly express who they thought they were. It created a new social and political experience that solidified into a unique Taiwanese identity and became a moderating force, especially for the younger generation who have no memory of authoritarian rule.
Written by Will Foster. This article unpacks the emergence and development of a distinct Taiwanese political identity that was unleashed by its transition to democracy. It argues that democratisation shifted Taiwan’s identity away from the ROC’s claim over China to democratic self-determination of Taiwan’s future. It also enables the development of democratic values that shape its current tensions with China.
Written by Nikhil Sharma. This article analyses the historical contexts that underpinned eventual reforms and the reimagining of Taiwanese identity resulting from Taiwan’s democratic transition. It argues that Taiwan’s nationalism is unique because it is not rooted in ethnicity but in a shared experience of historical repression and a shared struggle to chart its own path.
Written by Daniel Yu-Kuei Sun, Jou Fei Huang and Thung-Hong Lin. The article examines how international baseball success influences national identity in Taiwan. Using polling data from the 2024 Premier12 tournament, the authors argue that key victories strengthened exclusive Taiwanese identity while reducing dual Taiwanese-Chinese identification. However, identity shifts varied by opponent and political affiliation, revealing the contingent, emotional, and contested nature of Taiwanese nationhood.
Written by Jerry Chen. This article argues that myths surrounding youth baseball success and the “Chinese Taipei” designation obscure Taiwan’s complex history, while limiting global understanding of Taiwanese baseball and its evolving national identity.
