National Stories in South Korea and Taiwan

Abstract

This chapter reviews national stories that embed important cues about the historical relationship between a national people and the state in which they live. It points out how theses cues can powerfully shape who feels a sense of civic duty to their democracy by delineating the boundaries of national obligation. It also confirms what national stories actually look like and how something like nation–state linkage is learned. The chapter illustrates how national stories work in South Korea and Taiwan, taking a deep dive into this illuminating comparison. It traces the divergent nationalist histories of South Korea and Taiwan during the early nation-building period, noting different nationalist movements the two democracies experienced after independence in the mid-twentieth century.