Taiwan is frequently viewed through the lens of cross-Strait tensions, great-power rivalry, or its indispensable role in the global semiconductor industry. While these perspectives capture Taiwan’s strategic importance, they often overlook the political, institutional, and societal foundations that have enabled it to emerge as a resilient democracy and an increasingly influential international actor. Understanding Taiwan today therefore requires looking beyond familiar geopolitical narratives to examine the ideas, institutions, and partnerships that underpin its resilience.
This special issue brings together five reflections from participants in the U.S.–Taiwan–European Next Generation Working Group, convened by the Institute of East Asian Studies at the University of California, Berkeley. Drawing on discussions with policymakers, legislators, academics, business leaders, and civil society representatives during their visit to Taipei in June 2026, the contributors collectively identify several themes that emerged consistently throughout the visit while offering distinct perspectives on Taiwan’s evolving strategic environment.
A recurring theme across the collection is resilience. Kristina Kironska argues that resilience has become Taiwan’s organising principle, shaping approaches to national security, democratic governance, economic policy, and technological development. Complementing this perspective, Lucy Best demonstrates how Taiwan’s democratic institutions—from budgetary politics to industrial policymaking—are central to sustaining state capacity, public trust, and long-term resilience. Together, these essays remind readers that Taiwan’s security depends not only on military capabilities but also on the strength of its democratic governance.
The collection also challenges conventional ways of understanding Taiwan. Noah Metheny argues that Taiwan should be understood not simply through the “China lens” or the “silicon shield”, but as a democracy whose international influence increasingly rests on credibility built through effective governance, development cooperation, and trusted partnerships. Thomas Shattuck similarly questions narratives portraying Taiwan as merely a “small state”, arguing that its economic,
technological, and geostrategic importance far exceeds what its physical size might suggest.
Looking ahead, Drake Long explores Taiwan’s evolving defence-industrial strategy, examining both the opportunities and challenges of developing a dual-use defence industry that can strengthen domestic resilience while deepening cooperation with international partners.
Taken together, these contributions present Taiwan not simply as a geopolitical flashpoint, but as a democracy whose resilience, governance, technological innovation, and international engagement are mutually reinforcing. By bringing these perspectives together, this special issue offers a more nuanced understanding of Taiwan’s strategic significance and the choices that will shape its future.
Taiwan’s Transition to Democracy and the Taiwanese Identity Written by Nikhil Sharma.
Taiwan’s Democratisation and the Growth of Taiwanese Political Identity Written by Will Foster.
Taiwanese Identity and the Correspondence to Democracy Written by Josh Boynton.
The “One China” Policy and Status Quo in the Taiwan Strait: A Gambit of Strategic Ambiguity Written by Lourdes Ames-Rodriguez
Comparative Analysis of Taiwan’s Sunflower Movement and Hong Kong’s Umbrella Movement of 2014 Written by Matthew Lorence.