
Ghost Nation: Taiwan's Struggle for Survival with Chris Horton
- S3E9
- 1:34:54
- July 29th 2025
If you've been following world events, you know that Taiwan's future has become a major question, and a fulcrum for the future of democracy. Chris Horton is the author of "Ghost Nation: The Story of Taiwan and Its Struggle for Survival," a new book that offers a unique view into Taiwan's complex history, its precarious present, and its potential futures. "Ghost Nation" is a must read for those interested in the future of democracy, not just in Asia but around the world, and Dave's conversation with Chris is a great introduction to this complex set of topics.
More info: https://chrishortonwriter.com
Book: https://www.amazon.com/Ghost-Nation-Taiwan-Struggle-Survival/dp/1035034026
00:00 Introduction to Taiwan's Complex History
00:52 Meet Chris Horton: Author of Ghost Nation
03:15 The Dutch and Spanish Colonization
07:27 The Ming and Qing Dynasties
17:53 Japanese Rule and Modernization
23:48 The ROC and the 2-28 Incident
48:18 Martial Law in Taiwan: A Dark History
50:00 Democratization and Political Shifts
51:39 Taiwan's Identity and International Relations
01:00:56 Taiwan's Economic Transformation
01:04:10 TSMC: Taiwan's Semiconductor Giant
01:08:37 China's Military Threat and Taiwan's Defense
01:23:34 US-Taiwan Relations and Strategic Ambiguity
01:33:07 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Dave Troy Presents
Dave Troy is a technologist, historian, and researcher who has studied disinformation and extremism online since the earliest days of the internet.