Taiwan’s contested sovereignty sits at the heart of its domestic politics, shaping party competition, social movements, and public attitudes toward the United States and China. As U.S- China rivalry intensifies, debates in Taiwan over political polarization, economic ties with the United States, and cross-Strait engagement have taken on heightened national security significance, often with implications that are misunderstood by outside audiences.
In an event held on February 4, Lev Nachman, in conversation with Wei-Ting Yen, examines these dynamics through the lens of his book Contested Taiwan: Sovereignty, Social Movements, and Party Formation. Drawing on extensive fieldwork and comparative insights, they discuss how Taiwan’s parties, activists, and citizens navigate geopolitics, polarization, and democratic participation—and what these debates reveal about Taiwan’s political future.