From Neoliberalism to Populism? A Critical Analysis of Taiwan’s Experiences

Description

Our time has witnessed a surge of populism, where Taiwan is no exception. Contemporary studies on populism began to identify the intricate relationship between neoliberal globalization and populist politics, where populism is largely conceived as a political reaction to the encroachment of neoliberalism. However, the relationship between the two can be far more complicated than what is often portrayed in the existing literature: Is populism a consequence, a counterforce, or a co-constitutive element of neoliberalism? How does Taiwan fit in the aforementioned question? Is a structural analysis possible against the highly divergent forms of populist politics and neoliberal initiatives? Furthermore, how do Taiwan’s experiences contribute to the theoretical development of the global populism scholarship? Focusing on the restructuring of state-society relations and examining a number of Taiwan’s notable populist movements within their political-economic conjuncture in the post-democratization era, this talk seeks to shed light on the dynamics between neoliberalism and populism in Taiwan and beyond.

Szu-Yun Hsu is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at McMaster University. Dr. Hsu received her Ph.D. in geography from the University of British Columbia. Her research explores the intricate dynamics between populism, neoliberalism, and geo-political economy in East Asia with a focus on Taiwan.