Book Description

This dissertation, "Humanitarianism in National and Global Governance: a Study of Taiwan's Responses to Diseases and Disasters" by Alain, Guilloux, was obtained from The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong) and is being sold pursuant to Creative Commons: Attribution 3.0 Hong Kong License. The content of this dissertation has not been altered in any way. We have altered the formatting in order to facilitate the ease of printing and reading of the dissertation. All rights not granted by the above license are retained by the author. Abstract: Abstract of thesis entitled Humanitarianism in national and global governance: A study of Taiwan's responses to diseases and disasters Submitted by Alain Guilloux For the degree of Doctor of Philosophy At The University of Hong Kong In August 2006 This study addresses Taiwan's involvement in important aspects of the global order from a state-centred governance perspective. Taiwan's international health-related initiatives and aid programmes have long been dismissed by their critics as "dollar diplomacy," which refers to the purchase of diplomatic alliances through gifts of various kinds. Is such criticism warranted on the basis of the facts? Do Taiwan's actions set it apart from other actors in the international arena? Two case studies are provided to address different aspects of Taiwan's involvement in the global response system to public health developments and to natural and man-made disasters. The first case study considers Taiwan's campaign to gain observer status at the World Health Organisation. The second case study explores Taiwan's contribution to life-saving goals through medical and humanitarian aid programmes. The analytical framework of the study is based on 'governance' and 'governance theory' which serve valuably to highlight and integrate the numerous interrelationships between or among the state, market and civil society in which various people and organisations, as players or actors, are central components. The framework is used to guide and inform an examination of Taiwan's response to health developments and to natural and man-made disasters with the aim of enhancing its status in the global arena. Taiwan points to its various programmes and related contributions as key arguments in support of its bid to gain observer status at the WHO. But Taiwan fails to keep up with the rapid evolution of global health cooperation and disaster response systems. In addition, the potential of its contribution is limited, as it remains an irregular state. Taiwanese aid actors operate with additional constraints due to Taiwan's international isolation. A wide range of ideas about 'governance' is explored in the analytical and empirical chapters, with detailed descriptions and assessments being provided throughout the discussion and brought together in the conclusion. A significant finding of the case studies is that Taiwan's governance actors invoke key elements of governance both strategically and selectively to enhance the country's international standing and to achieve other related goals, and that they tend to do this to a greater extent and in ways that other, regular states usually do not need to. In the process, various norms and policy instruments are used, and outputs and outcomes are achieved, with important consequences not only for Taiwan's international reputation, but also for health developments and for disaster aid recipients. iThe utility of the analytical framework is confirmed, along with suggestions for further research and possible lines of further theory development in 'governance', especially in the context of global affairs. ii DOI: 10.5353/th_b3789423 Subjects: Humanitarian assistance - Political aspects - Taiwan International relief - Political aspects - Taiwan Epidemics - Political aspects - Taiwan Disaster relief - Political aspects - Taiwan