The Social Construction of the Ocean and Modern Taiwan

Book excerpt: This book interprets the meanings of the uses, regulations, and representations of the ocean undertaken by the state and other societal power sources in modern Taiwan between 1949 and 2016. Following Michael Mann’s historical sociology and Philip Steinberg’s political geography, the book analyses the construction of the ocean by the society of Taiwan in terms of ideological, political, military and economic sources of power. It also provides a structural foundation for creating a framework of the politics in maritime and ocean affairs through the lens of an interpretive analysis of the modern Taiwanese construction of the ocean. Moreover, it explores the social constructions of the ocean through the written works of intellectuals in natural sciences, social studies and humanities in Taiwan after the 1980s. Succinctly revealing how Taiwanese society has influenced the social construction of the ocean, this book will appeal to scholars and students interested in Taiwanese politics and history, political geography and Asian politics.