University of Washington Taiwan Studies Program

In just half a century, Taiwan transformed from an agricultural colony into an economic power, spurred by efforts of the authoritarian Republic of China government in land reform, farmers associations, and improved crop varieties. Yet overlooked is how Taiwan brought these practices to the developing world. In the Global Vanguard elucidates the history and impact of the “Taiwan model” of agrarian development by incorporating how Taiwanese experts took the country’s agrarian success and exported it throughout rural communities across Africa and Southeast Asia. Driven by the global Cold War and challenges to the Republic of China’s legitimacy, Taiwanese agricultural technicians and scientists shared their practices, which they claimed were better suited for poor, tropical societies in the developing world. These development missions, James Lin argues, were projected in Taiwan as proof of the ruling government’s modernity and technical prowess and were crucial to how the state sought to hold onto its contested position in the international system and its rule by martial law at home.

James Lin is a historian of Taiwan and its interactions with the world in the 20th century. His book, In the Global Vanguard: Agrarian Development and the Making of Modern Taiwan was published open access by University of California Press in 2025. He received his BA and PhD from University of California, Berkeley, and MA from Columbia University. At UW, he teaches the modern history of Taiwan and US-China-Taiwan relations, as well as thematic courses on development, capitalism, science, technology, and environment. He serves as Associate Chair of the Taiwan Studies Program, and will serve as Chair of the program starting in the fall.