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The Taiwan Democracy Project will host its first speaker of the fall quarter on Friday, October 4 at noon, at Stanford. The talk is open to the public. Further details and a place to RSVP are here. Our speaker is Margaret Lewis, Associate Professor of Law at Seton Hall University. The title and abstract of her talk are below.
Contrasts across the Strait: International Human Rights Norms in Taiwan and China
In less than three decades, Taiwan has transformed from a repressive, authoritarian state into a vibrant democracy. Changes to the legal system, and particularly the criminal justice system, have played a central role in this story. Reform-minded politicians, lawyers, judges, prosecutors, and scholars have been crucial advocates for strengthening human rights protections, as has Taiwan’s Constitutional Court. Since the end of martial law, the Court has vigorously given heft to rights enshrined in the Republic of China’s constitution. Now that Taiwan has adopted the contents of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as domestic law, it is an opportune moment to reflect on Taiwan’s journey towards embracing international human rights norms and to confront remaining challenges. The situation across the strait is markedly different. Today, Taiwan’s Constitutional Court has no counterpart on the Mainland and analogues to Taiwan’s former police-controlled punishments remain in full effect. As calls for reform on the Mainland become increasingly vocal, how might Taiwan’s experience inform efforts to increase human rights protections in the People’s Republic of China?
In less than three decades, Taiwan has transformed from a repressive, authoritarian state into a vibrant democracy. Changes to the legal system, and particularly the criminal justice system, have played a central role in this story. Reform-minded politicians, lawyers, judges, prosecutors, and scholars have been crucial advocates for strengthening human rights protections, as has Taiwan’s Constitutional Court. Since the end of martial law, the Court has vigorously given heft to rights enshrined in the Republic of China’s constitution. Now that Taiwan has adopted the contents of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as domestic law, it is an opportune moment to reflect on Taiwan’s journey towards embracing international human rights norms and to confront remaining challenges. The situation across the strait is markedly different. Today, Taiwan’s Constitutional Court has no counterpart on the Mainland and analogues to Taiwan’s former police-controlled punishments remain in full effect. As calls for reform on the Mainland become increasingly vocal, how might Taiwan’s experience inform efforts to increase human rights protections in the People’s Republic of China?
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Two calls for applications that have recently come through my inbox.
Blakemore Freeman Fellowships for Advanced Asian Language Study
Blakemore Freeman Fellowships are awarded to individuals pursuing professional, business, technical or academic careers that involve the regular use of an East or Southeast Asian language. The grants fund an academic year of advanced language study at the Inter-University Center for Japanese Language Studies in Yokohama, the Inter-University Program for Chinese Language Studies at Tsinghua University in Beijing, the International Chinese Language Program at National Taiwan University in Taipei, and similar programs in other countries of East and SE Asia. The grants cover tuition and a stipend for related educational expenses, basic living costs and transportation, but do not include dependent expenses.
Superior candidates pursuing careers in fields such as academia, international business, accounting, law, medicine, journalism, STEM (science, technology, engineering, math), architecture, teaching, social or NGO work, and government/public service are encouraged to apply.
Eligible Languages
Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Khmer and Burmese
Applicant Eligibility
· Pursuing a professional, business, technical or academic career that involves the regular use of an East or SE Asian language
· Have a college undergraduate degree by the time language program starts
· Be at or near an advanced level in the language as defined in the Grant Guidelines
· Able to devote oneself exclusively to full-time intensive language study
· Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident of the United States
· Applications must be postmarked by December 30, 2013. Grants awarded April 2014.
For application forms and further information go to
www.blakemorefoundation.org
Eugene H. Lee, Trustee
Mimi Gardner Gates, Board Chair
Cathy Scheibner, Executive Assistant
THE BLAKEMORE FOUNDATION
1201 Third Avenue, Suite 4900 Seattle, Washington 98101-3099
blakemorefoundation@gmail.com or blakemore@perkinscoie.com
www.blakemorefoundation.org
Phone: (206) 359-8778
Superior candidates pursuing careers in fields such as academia, international business, accounting, law, medicine, journalism, STEM (science, technology, engineering, math), architecture, teaching, social or NGO work, and government/public service are encouraged to apply.
Eligible Languages
Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Khmer and Burmese
Applicant Eligibility
· Pursuing a professional, business, technical or academic career that involves the regular use of an East or SE Asian language
· Have a college undergraduate degree by the time language program starts
· Be at or near an advanced level in the language as defined in the Grant Guidelines
· Able to devote oneself exclusively to full-time intensive language study
· Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident of the United States
· Applications must be postmarked by December 30, 2013. Grants awarded April 2014.
For application forms and further information go to
www.blakemorefoundation.org
Eugene H. Lee, Trustee
Mimi Gardner Gates, Board Chair
Cathy Scheibner, Executive Assistant
THE BLAKEMORE FOUNDATION
1201 Third Avenue, Suite 4900 Seattle, Washington 98101-3099
blakemorefoundation@gmail.com or blakemore@perkinscoie.com
www.blakemorefoundation.org
Phone: (206) 359-8778
Position Listing: Taiwan Literature Research Associate
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Taiwan Literature
Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures - 26527
Washington University
The Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures at Washington
University in St. Louis invites applications for a full-time postdoctoral
teaching fellowship in late Qing through early 20th century Chinese
literature and culture, with a preference for scholars specializing in
Taiwan’s literary development during the colonial period. In addition to
carrying on research in this area, the successful candidate will be asked
to teach three courses each year, at least one of which should be an
advanced course or seminar that focuses on the legacy of colonialism in
Taiwan literature and culture in the greater East Asian context.
Candidates should be able to demonstrate prior successful teaching
experience and must have a Ph.D. in Chinese literature or related field
prior to the start of the appointment. This position begins in January
2014, with the possibility of renewal for two additional years.
Applicants must apply through the Washington University HR website:
https://jobs.wustl.edu/
Job ID number: 26527.
Applications must include a cover letter, descriptions and sample syllabi
of courses, a CV, and a research statement of up to 1,500 words; all
material must be uploaded to the online application. Three letters of
reference should be emailed directly by the writers to the Search
Committee Chair, Professor Letty Chen at: llchen@wustl.edu; inquiries may
be addressed toealc@artsci.wustl.edu. Application review will begin
October 1, 2013 and continue until the position is filled.
Washington University in St. Louis is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative
Action employer, and encourages women, minorities, and persons with
disabilities to apply. Employment eligibility is required upon appointment.
Taiwan Literature
Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures - 26527
Washington University
The Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures at Washington
University in St. Louis invites applications for a full-time postdoctoral
teaching fellowship in late Qing through early 20th century Chinese
literature and culture, with a preference for scholars specializing in
Taiwan’s literary development during the colonial period. In addition to
carrying on research in this area, the successful candidate will be asked
to teach three courses each year, at least one of which should be an
advanced course or seminar that focuses on the legacy of colonialism in
Taiwan literature and culture in the greater East Asian context.
Candidates should be able to demonstrate prior successful teaching
experience and must have a Ph.D. in Chinese literature or related field
prior to the start of the appointment. This position begins in January
2014, with the possibility of renewal for two additional years.
Applicants must apply through the Washington University HR website:
https://jobs.wustl.edu/
Job ID number: 26527.
Applications must include a cover letter, descriptions and sample syllabi
of courses, a CV, and a research statement of up to 1,500 words; all
material must be uploaded to the online application. Three letters of
reference should be emailed directly by the writers to the Search
Committee Chair, Professor Letty Chen at: llchen@wustl.edu; inquiries may
be addressed toealc@artsci.wustl.edu. Application review will begin
October 1, 2013 and continue until the position is filled.
Washington University in St. Louis is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative
Action employer, and encourages women, minorities, and persons with
disabilities to apply. Employment eligibility is required upon appointment.
- Published on
Welcome! I've started a blog. In a world where people seem to be blogging about everything all the time--or Facebooking, or tweeting, or Instagramming--why do we need another? The interwebs don't exactly have a shortage of people pumping out snarky political commentary every day. So this blog will not be that. Nor will it be a re-hashing of the day's news, or funny tweets, or pictures of cats. There are plenty of those online already, too. Instead, here are the decidedly modest aims of this blog:
1. To provide a record of major political events in Taiwan. I follow Taiwanese politics pretty closely, partly because it's my job, partly because I find it really interesting, and partly because it provides regular insights into big questions in political science. But my memory is quite fallible. At various points I've found myself digging back through news archives trying to figure out when a major political event happened, why it happened, who was involved, and what the consequences were. And while there are a lot of news outlets that cover Taiwanese politics, they often don't record crucial details that I care about. So I will attempt here to provide a regular roundup of major political happenings in Taiwan: things like election outcomes, passage of important legislation, turnover in key positions within government and within the major political parties, significant demonstrations or rallies, major court decisions, and so forth.
2. To serve as a resource for Taiwan Studies. Announcements about conferences, funding competitions, diplomatic initiatives, and whatever else Taiwan-related that comes through my inbox will appear here.
3. To present a take on Taiwanese politics informed by political science. There are already a lot of online sources that provide well-informed, critical commentary on the Taiwanese political scene. No need to replicate what they do, even if I could. What I want to contribute is a different perspective, drawing on existing research and data, sometimes but not usually my own, to speak to contemporary politics in Taiwan. That will include discussion of events in other young democracies around the world--something that gets woefully little attention in Taiwan. It might also include the occasional foray into events in the People's Republic of China.
4. To think aloud. I'm extremely fortunate to be part of a vibrant intellectual community at Stanford, the Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law (CDDRL). I envision this blog as a place for short posts about whatever's on my mind: reactions to campus speakers and events, to conversations in the hallway, to what I'm reading, to thoughts that bubble up on the train ride in--anything, really. Some of this will certainly be half-baked, uninformed stuff. But I hope that by posting it I can figure out what's worth thinking about more.
Finally, this is an experiment of sorts. Although I've been a regular reader of lots of good blogging work out there, I've resisted joining the online commentariat until now. Things may evolve here, and I welcome comments and suggestions that help improve the process and the product.
1. To provide a record of major political events in Taiwan. I follow Taiwanese politics pretty closely, partly because it's my job, partly because I find it really interesting, and partly because it provides regular insights into big questions in political science. But my memory is quite fallible. At various points I've found myself digging back through news archives trying to figure out when a major political event happened, why it happened, who was involved, and what the consequences were. And while there are a lot of news outlets that cover Taiwanese politics, they often don't record crucial details that I care about. So I will attempt here to provide a regular roundup of major political happenings in Taiwan: things like election outcomes, passage of important legislation, turnover in key positions within government and within the major political parties, significant demonstrations or rallies, major court decisions, and so forth.
2. To serve as a resource for Taiwan Studies. Announcements about conferences, funding competitions, diplomatic initiatives, and whatever else Taiwan-related that comes through my inbox will appear here.
3. To present a take on Taiwanese politics informed by political science. There are already a lot of online sources that provide well-informed, critical commentary on the Taiwanese political scene. No need to replicate what they do, even if I could. What I want to contribute is a different perspective, drawing on existing research and data, sometimes but not usually my own, to speak to contemporary politics in Taiwan. That will include discussion of events in other young democracies around the world--something that gets woefully little attention in Taiwan. It might also include the occasional foray into events in the People's Republic of China.
4. To think aloud. I'm extremely fortunate to be part of a vibrant intellectual community at Stanford, the Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law (CDDRL). I envision this blog as a place for short posts about whatever's on my mind: reactions to campus speakers and events, to conversations in the hallway, to what I'm reading, to thoughts that bubble up on the train ride in--anything, really. Some of this will certainly be half-baked, uninformed stuff. But I hope that by posting it I can figure out what's worth thinking about more.
Finally, this is an experiment of sorts. Although I've been a regular reader of lots of good blogging work out there, I've resisted joining the online commentariat until now. Things may evolve here, and I welcome comments and suggestions that help improve the process and the product.