Office of University Communications 

Professor's newest book explains Taiwan's approach to foreign policy

Text features interviews with former president, academics, government officials and business leaders

SPRINGFIELD — Politics in East Asia cannot be ignored, says Dr. Dennis Hickey, professor of political science at Missouri State University. Not in this day and age.

Hickey’s new book, “Foreign Policy Making in Taiwan: From Principle to Pragmatism,” thoroughly examines Taiwan’s approach to foreign policy by focusing on several considerations that shape the island's external relations: the international system, governmental structure, societal forces and individual factors.

“A possible war between China and Taiwan remains a major flashpoint in East Asia,” he says. “Some claim it is a greater threat to peace and stability than the stand-off on the Korean peninsula. As some of Taiwan’s foreign policy initiatives (for example, the drive to return to the United Nations) have put the island on a collision course with China, it makes sense for us to understand why the government in Taipei is doing these things.  ”

During numerous visits to the island over the past several years, Hickey met with Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Mark Chen and former President Lee Teng-hui, as well as academics, government officials, business and opinion leaders.

“Foreign policy making is always a convoluted and complex process,” the author says. “It seldom, if ever, resembles the simple descriptions in most textbooks. Hence, the biggest challenge was seeking to open the ‘black box’ that constitutes the making of foreign policy in most countries.  But interviews with officials and academics in Taiwan proved especially helpful in this respect.”

Hickey says some of his interviews revealed that numerous people believe the current administration – under the leadership of President Chen Shui-bian – was unprepared to handle the challenges facing the country, which split from China in 1949 following a civil war.

“Some of the people I interviewed confessed that the administration is much better at being an opposition party than a ruling party,” the author explains.

Hickey’s research and teaching interests include international relations, Asian politics, and foreign policy. He has published approximately 40 scholarly articles and book chapters. In addition to this book, he has also authored three others – all of them addressing issues involving Taiwan and China.

“Foreign Policy Making in Taiwan: From Principle to Pragmatism” is published by Routledge Press. Hickey says the book will appeal to those interested in East Asian politics and those interested in foreign policy analysis. As such, he says, it is designed for academics, practitioners (people in government in the U.S., China and Taiwan), and others with an interest in these areas. The book has already received endorsements by some of the world's leading experts in Asian politics.

More information can be found at www.routledge.com.