HIS 272Y - Intensive Course Abroad: Many Taiwans: Indigeneity, Colonialism, and Civil Society (1-3 Cr.)

Many Taiwans: Indigeneity, Colonialism, and Civil Society
Taiwan is known in today’s world primarily in three ways: as a possible flashpoint that could spark global conflict; as the homeland of bubble tea; and as the first country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage. These are three wildly different data points, a degree of variation that should indicate that Taiwan is a
multi-faceted place, one that has emerged out of a complex history of the interaction between domestic and international events and trends. This course will concentrate on three aspects of Taiwan’s long history: the societies and cultures of Indigenous Taiwanese; the several varieties of settler colonialism; and the emergence and growth of civil society. It will give students the opportunity to directly experience and assess these “many Taiwans” by visiting museums, memorials, and other sites designed to present specific aspects of Taiwan’s history and society, and interacting with local experts through presentations and discussions. It includes both a semester-long pre-course in the spring before departure (1 credit) and the three-week program overseas following spring commencement (3 credits). The pre-course is mandatory. Alternating years.