Modernization of societies throughout the world began centuries ago. It is a process that has not yet ended in some countries while in others it has flourished and contributes to greatly enhanced living conditions. It is a process that has been studied and debated in Taiwan, one of few Asian countries where democracy, economic development, political liberty and civil rights have been instituted as part of modernization. The authors of this book frame modernization as a "continual and progressive process." As is often the case, proponents of modernization often clash with traditionalists, but such clashes can be temporary. Developing countries have modernized in waves. The current wave is that of globalization.

Scholars have been able to understand Taiwan's modernization in a global sense because of the well-documented miraculous economic development in the island nation. Modernization gained momentum after the lifting of the martial law by the KMT government in 1987, the termination of the Emergency Decree in 1991, the direct election of the president in 1996 and the peaceful transfer of power in 2000 from the KMT, which dominated politics in Taiwan for more than 50 years. In addition, the establishment of rule of law, protection of civil liberties and political and human rights have all contributed to Taiwan's modernization.

Peter C.Y. Chow, who edited the work of more than 20 scholars for this timely book, says that Taiwanese people, by adopting democratic values, have proven that democracy can be applied in Chinese society and that democracy helps rather than deters economic development. Many elderly Asian politicians still believe that "Asian values" are incompatible with democracy.

But Chow says, "Taiwan's democracy is neither perfect nor complete. There are positive as well as negative experiences from Taiwan's path of pursuing democracy."

Author Thomas Bellows argues in the book that modernization and globalization of Taiwan complement each other. But he rightly points out that the one-China policy demanded by the Mainland has been an obstacle to Taiwan's search for international recognition, which is an important factor in globalization. He explains that market economy, democratization and globalization are interdependent, but globalization in Taiwan has not brought about the international status that the country wants. Despite the obstacles created by the one-China policy, which is rejected by the DPP government headed by President Chen Shui-bian, Taiwan's open economy, foreign investments, and strategic alliances with the world's best multinational corporations have put the country in a highly visible position. Bellows says that accelerated modernization in Taiwan have resulted in increased opposition in Taiwan to the Mainland's "one China policy."

In one interesting chapter titled "Think globally, Do Locally: Internationalization of Taiwan's Human Rights Regime," authors Fort Fu-te Liao and Jau-Yuan Hwang say that Taiwan's political isolation has not contributed to advancement of human rights. The country cannot join international organizations or sign international treaties on human rights. But such external constraints should not deter national efforts to promote an effective protection of human rights by incorporating international human rights norms in domestic legislation.

The modernization and democratic process has been jolted by several cases of corruption, known popularly as "black and gold politics." Efforts are being made, through various levels of society and government to rid corruption inside and outside of government.

The scale of the study of modernization in Taiwan is large and profound, encompassing fforts by the state, the political parties as well as the local government. The authors of this book have been able to present an image of what contributed to modernization in Taiwan, a successful story that other countries have tried to emulate.