Nation Building, is it as bad as it sounds?
(Paragraphs are not in logical connection, nor are some completed)
In a nation of Taiwanese Americans should Identify global citizens.
Although some may say that the increasingly polarized nature of different viewpoints, political ideologies, and civil doctrines prevents a fair distribution of resources for infrastructural, economic, and political developments, I believe that a global identity creates a balanced playing field for equitable dialogue, allowing us to allocate resources through an equality-based utilitarian approach.
In a world of icnreaingly polarized viewpoints, political ideologies, and civil doctrines, resource allocation for infrastructural, economic, and political developments are a zero sum game. I believe we should learn towards a global idenitiy, because it allows it increase global cohesiveness and help us focus on adress issues through a equality-based utilitarian approach.
“The Tragedy of Commons, is a well-known phenomenon wherein an individual who has access to a certain resource will always act in their own self-interest, leading to the eventual depletion of said resource for all parties involved”. Pointing to a relatively crude scrabble of what looked to be caricatures of cows grazing in a field, my AP economics teacher gave the class a tired grin. Without much enthusiasm, the class reflected the tired look back, sans grin.
*otherwise*
Overfishing exampl
To understand how global resource allocation has affected modern Taiwan, we must first set the stage for the context. The year is 1949, the small island nation still recovering from over 50 years of Japanese rule. As the Chinese Civil War draws to a close, the defeated Kuomingtang brings over 2 million refugees to the island, fleeing from the now-communist-controlled mainland. The economy is stifled with rampant inflations, a lack of real industry, and corrupt government officials. For Taiwan, did not seem bright. However, over the next decades, the nation’s GDP rose by over 350%, the wealth gap within the nation decreased significantly, and urban sectors were revitalized, creating something that the world dubbed a “Taiwanese Miracle”. However, miracles are rare, can often be_______: over 4 billion dollars in US aid. From the standpoint of an external observer, it seems that the US had taken a great step towards a global identity. Yet the truth is often more logical and less ideal. When we analyze the support of the US, we begin to question the reasoning behind this investment: Why did the US send this aid? Why Taiwan, and not the hundreds of other countries that needed similar assistance in economic, global revitalization?
The answer comes in the form of economic imperialism. US aid almost never comes with a “No strings policy”. When we look back now, it is clear that US policymakers apporved the aid not out of generosity, but of national gain.The Taiwanese Miracle occurred at the height of the Cold War. As the communist mainland of China encroached upon East Asia, the United States reallized it needed an ally there, lest “all of asia fall into the hands of the communist heathens”. Thus, the decision to send aid to Taiwan came in droves. From free use cash agreements to foreign direct investment, Taiwan saw everything from bags of rice to M16s. Pretty soon, US had built their own little “home away from home” in Taiwan, complete with Mcdonalds and more.
Today, Taiwan has been a shining success in the light of American nation building. It’s poverty rate is low, the government satisfaction high, and economy largely well off. However, it is wise to note that it is still a victim of neo imperialism — it’s government, politics, and economy all shaped after economic ideals. Thus, the question becomes, should citizens with a global identity accept this? Is this morally corect?
Of course there are institutions that have been invented that attempt to provide effective resources where it is needed. The World Bank, for example
THIS IS BAD< but it is the first step
This is still based on national objectives
