Evan N. Dawley, "Taiwan: A People′s History" (Reaktion Books, 2026)

Taiwan’s history centers on the lived experiences of its diverse populations rather than purely geopolitical shifts. Dr. Evan Dawley, an associate professor of history at Goucher College, re-evaluates the island’s past by prioritizing processes of transformation over government-centric periodization. This approach highlights the evolution of indigenous history, specifically the shift from Southern and Northern origin theories to the dominant Austronesian dispersal model. A distinct Taiwanese identity emerged through centuries of settler colonialism, Japanese rule, and post-war democratization. The transition from ethnic consciousness to an inclusive civic nationalism explains how Taiwan’s current public opinion—characterized by a strong preference for the status quo—remains rooted in long-standing historical practices of resistance and social adaptation against successive colonial regimes.