
Programs
To foster leaders with a worldwide perspective on political science and economics, well-versed in the evolution of geopolitics.
Pre-master's Program
Emerging Economies: Entertainment, Neo-nomadism, DEI-leadership
The pandemic and the wars, two crucial global events coupled with the accelerating AI revolution, are drastically transforming the globe in economic activities and productions. Apart from analyzing emerging economies from economical and financial perspectives of the manufacturing-consumer markets, FDI recipients and outward investors (Casanova & Miroux, 2017), or the changing demographics of the E20 (Kharas, 2010), this course proposes to teach and interpret emerging economies from an interdisciplinary standpoint. It consists of three modules on entertainment, neo-nomadism, and DEI-leadership, respectively.
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Module One: The first module focuses on entertainment, particularly on the developments of musical and filmic productions and procedures.
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Module Two: The second module will take up issues mentioned in the first module and attend to a new form of production, digital nomadism, or what we call “neo-nomadism.”
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Module Three: The third module, to summarize pivotal concepts in modules one and two, will investigate how DEI takes various forms in global leadership and management, to be discussed through latest theories and real-world praxis and applications.
Instructors:
Pao-Hsiang Wang, Mou-Lan Wong, Hans T. Tung, Matthew Ma, Bennett Fu
Location:
TBA
Time:
Module One (4/11, 4/12, 4/25, 4/26); Module Two (5/09, 5/10, 5/23, 5/24); Module Three (6/13, 6/14, 6/20, 6/21)
Advisor:
Bennett Fu
Description
The pandemic and the wars, two crucial global events coupled with the accelerating AI revolution, are drastically transforming the globe in economic activities and productions. Apart from analyzing emerging economies from economical and financial perspectives of the manufacturing-consumer markets, FDI recipients and outward investors (Casanova & Miroux, 2017), or the changing demographics of the E20 (Kharas, 2010), this course proposes to teach and interpret emerging economies from an interdisciplinary standpoint. Designed as part of the pre-master’s curriculum of the new School of Political Science and Economics at NTU, this innovative course, featuring a humanities-based pedagogy, invites the top-tier faculty from different disciplines (i.e., drama, literature, medicine, political science) at National Taiwan University in the hopes of shedding light on alternative readings and understandings of these intersecting factors in a transforming time. It consists of three modules on entertainment, neo-nomadism, and DEI-leadership, respectively.
The first module focuses on entertainment, particularly on the developments of musical and filmic productions and procedures.
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Manufacturing dreams and peddling fantasies have been good business ever since the dawning of the entertainment industry in Europe in the 19th century. With the influx of immigrants, predominantly Jewish, from the old world, the USA in its turn experienced dual bursts of creative energies in entertainment industry in the 20th century, first on the east coast headquartered in New York, subsequently on the west coast with Los Angeles as the hub, giving births respectively to Broadway and Hollywood as we know them today. With the modern developments of Western entertainment industry, mainly in the US, it traces its origins to the massive contributions of Jewish emigrants, who mostly fled anti-Semite persecutions in Europe, and explored how the dual themes of escape and fantasy always feature in either Broadway musicals, or Hollywood studio movies. (Prof. Pao-Hsiang Wang)
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The other half of this module will explore two major franchises currently under Disney’s ever-growing banner: Star Wars and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. By examining the roots of the influences behind these two franchises, such as elements of humor, monomyth, and the multiverse, we will discuss the reasons for their successes and dynamism. On top of delving into the development, transition, and surge of Star Wars and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the module also touches upon the fan-economy, crowdfunding, and merchandise issues surrounding the two franchises. The understanding of these various issues informs us of how Disney is dealing with a diminishing streaming market and a shrinking movie entertainment business. (Prof. Mou-Lan Wong)
The second module will take up issues mentioned in the first module and attend to a new form of production, digital nomadism, or what we call “neo-nomadism.”
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This part of the module tries to examine the multifaceted dynamics of immigration and digital nomadism as a transformative phenomenon in the international political economy (IPE). It investigates the rise of remote work, facilitated by technological advancements and global connectivity, and its impact on labor markets, state policies, and transnational mobility. In particular, we emphasize the political and economic interests influencing immigration policies, from business advocacy for labor liberalization to public resistance fueled by cultural and national security concerns. Through case studies, theoretical frameworks, and empirical data, students will learn how to analyze case studies of digital nomad hubs, global inequalities in access to remote work, and the implications for citizenship, sovereignty, and governance in a digitalized world. Ultimately, this module prepares students to critically engage with one of the most pressing global challenges of the 21st century. (Prof. Hans T. Tung
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This half of the second module looks at the new phenomenon of neo-nomadism, an identity that numerous tech workers use to describe lifestyles of location independence. We will start examining from 19th-century European imperialism to allegorize colonial desires and imperial violence alike. Then we will briefly go through conventional diasporic routes of immigration to the West before the 21st century, particularly to North America. However, such transnational migration has taken a new nomadic form. We will choose two main locations for such cultural, imperialist discourses: Southeast Asia and the Silicon Valley. Neo-nomadism promotes a new lifestyle through self-branding in social media platforms where the online contents shape colonial portrayal of Southeast Asia, and in the Silicon Valley economic imperialism with nomadic fantasy is gradually transiting technologies of gentrification into new frontiers. (Prof. Bennett Fu)
The third module, to summarize pivotal concepts in module one (e.g., Marvel films) and module two (e.g., ethnicity politics), will investigate how DEI (or some call DIE?) in leadership takes various forms in changing global leadership and management. It will be discussed through certain latest theories and concepts and through real-world praxis and applications.
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The module on leadership in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) equips established managers and employees in the workplace with the knowledge and tools to create inclusive, equitable, and diverse work environments. This module connects theory, policy, practice, and perspective to empower leaders to embed DEI principles into their organizations. In the first half of this module, participants are introduced to explore the foundations of DEI, self-awareness, bias, and inclusive perspectives. At the same time, this half also focuses on the global connections and intercultural skills, coupled with DEI leadership, to help students understand challenges in the PC (politically correct) era in such areas as media, technology, identity, policy, society and so forth. (Prof. Bennett Fu)
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The second half of the module takes up the conceptual ideas applied to the implementation of DEI strategies within industries and organizations. It integrates theory, evidence, and practical strategies, using healthcare and hospitals as real-world examples. It addresses challenges such as health disparities, implicit bias, and microaggressions, while fostering the paradigm shift necessary for transformational leadership. A unique aspect of the program is its focus on accountability, ensuring leaders to develop measurable metrics to track DEI progress. Participants gain insights into managing DEI in crises, with a case study on COVID-19 highlighting equitable vaccine distribution and support for marginalized groups. Practical exercises, including action planning, role-playing, and peer feedback, help managers translate DEI concepts into actionable outcomes. By the end of the course, participants will have developed a robust understanding of DEI as a driver of organizational success, equipped with strategies to foster inclusive cultures, equitable policies, and diverse teams.. (Prof. Matthew Ma)
Evaluation
Discussion, participation, presentation 90% (30% for each module)
Attendance 10%.
Instructors
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Prof. Pao-Hsiang Wang is full-time Associate Professor of the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures at NTU, where he teaches dramatic literature, history of opera, and elective courses such as Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen. He received his M.A. in Theatre Studies from Indiana University, Bloomington, and Ph.D. in Dramatic Art from University of California, Santa Barbara. He served as English Secretary of University President (2001-4), Academic Secretary of Shakespeare Association in Taiwan (2018-20), and sat on the committee of judges for Taishin Arts Awards (2020-2021), and is currently an invited critic reviewing new productions for Performing Arts Review online. His research interests are fin-de-siècle drama, Jewish studies, history of opera, and American minority theatre, and has published journal papers on plays by Karen Finley, Anna Deavere Smith, Chay Yew, Alfred Uhry, Israel Zangwill, H. Leivick, Djuna Barnes, Elizabeth Robin, and operas by John Adams and Donizetti. His monograph Crisis of Identity of Fin-de-siècle Viennese Jews was published by Lambert Academic Publishing in 2010.
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Prof. Mou-Lan Wong is Associate Professor in the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures with a DPhil in English from St. Anne’s College, University of Oxford. His main research focuses on Victorian visual culture, nonsense literature, and intermedia. He participated in various editing posts with journals such as Chung-Wai Literary Monthly and Humanitas Taiwanica, and has published academically under the University of Iowa, University of South Carolina, Palgrave Macmillan, and Routledge.
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Hans H. Tung is the Associate Dean for Research & Development of the College of Social Sciences and a Professor of Political Science at National Taiwan University. He received his Ph.D. in Government from Harvard University. He is a non-resident research fellow at the V-Dem Regional Center for East Asia hosted by Keio University, and an Executive Committee Member of the Research Institute for the Humanities and Social Sciences under Taiwan’s National Science and Technology Council. He is primarily interested in formal and empirical analyses of the political-economic dynamics under authoritarian rule at both macro and micro levels, and has authored and co-authored several articles in academic journals such as Political Communication, Review of International Organizations, Public Opinion Quarterly, Journal of Theoretical Politics, Social Science & Medicine, Nature Communications, Japanese Economic Review, and PNAS Nexus. His co-authored article, Power Sharing and Media Freedom in Dictatorships, won the 2022 Kaid-Sanders Best Political Communication Article of the Year Award issued by the Political Communication Division of the International Communication Association in 2023.
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Prof. Matthew Huei-Ming Ma, a leading expert in emergency medicine, earned his M.D. from National Taiwan University (NTU), a Ph.D. in Health Policy and Management from Johns Hopkins University, and MBA from NTU. Currently a Professor of Emergency Medicine at NTU and Superintendent of NTU Hospital’s Yunlin Branch, he has made significant contributions to pre-hospital care and resuscitation science. Honored with the 4th Asian EMS Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016, Dr. Ma is recognized internationally for his work in emergency medical systems. Since 2017, he has led digital health innovations in Yunlin, addressing disparities in healthcare equity, access, and quality, aligned with universal health coverage goals. These initiatives, which earned the 2021 Taiwan Sustainability Action Award and National Innoaward, are being adopted across Taiwan, exemplifying his commitment to improving healthcare delivery through innovation and expertise.
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Prof. Bennett Fu is Professor in the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures at NTU. He earned his doctorate in English and American Literature from the University of Montreal, Canada. Before joining NTU, he had taught English writing and American literature at McGill University, University of Montreal, and Concordia University in Montreal. A trilingual scholar in English, French, and Chinese, over the past decade he has presented over 50 academic conference papers and 30 presentations on global higher education strategies and development, and published over 25 essays in such areas as race/ethnicity studies, comparative literature, and postcolonial studies. These critical essays have been published in 12 countries: USA, UK, Canada, France, Germany, Portugal, Spain, Netherlands, Korea, Japan, China and Taiwan. He is the author of the book Transgressive Transcripts (New York/Amsterdam: Rodopi Press) published in 2012. He is the English Editor-in-chief of National Taiwan University Press (NTUP) for the book series “East-West Cultural Encounters in Literature & Cultural Studies,” jointly published with the University of South Carolina Press (USCP), and he currently serves as the Director of Global Affairs at the School of Political Science and Economics at NTU.