The Centre for Greater China Studies (CGCS) would like to invite you to join a webinar fully supported by a grant from the Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China (Project No.:UGC/IDS14/17):

Date: 15 December 2020 (Tuesday)
Time: 10 am – 11:30 am
Language: Mandarin
Registration: https://forms.gle/dYbu4qMMLn6A8Bqu5
*This webinar will take place via Zoom

Topic:
Identity Politics and the Evolution of Happiness in Taiwan, 1999-2019

Introduction:
This paper conceptualises socio-political movements demanding for recognition in Taiwan a politicised collective identity. The formation of collective identity over decades is an ongoing process of raising consciousness, adversarial attribution, and triangulated power struggle. Politicisation of collective identity fosters and intensities self-stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination. We examine the impact of identity politics on happiness and compare the effect with the presumed effects of economic conditions using data from the Taiwan Social Image Surveys, 1999-2019, merging with external contextual data on Taiwanese identity, pro-independence and status quo maintenance, economic growth, earning growth, and income inequality. Economic growth, among others, plays a crucial role in accounting for the evolution of happiness. A booming economy makes people happy. Nonetheless, if people do not share the fruit of a booming economy or do not share the fruit evenly, the happiness-enhancing effect would be undermined. The effects of identity politics on happiness serve to buffer that of under-performed economy. The impacts of politics and economy appear to vary substantially across ruling parties.

Speakers:
Professor Ly-yun Chang [Institute of Sociology, Academia Sinica (Taiwan)]

About Centre for Greater China Studies (CGCS)
CGCS aims to provide a platform to enhance interdisciplinary research concerning Greater China region.

For enquiries, please feel free to contact us at cgcs@hsu.edu.hk or 3963 5611.