Over the past half-century, export-oriented economic thinking has driven Taiwan's development. Homes were turned into factories as the nation pushed production. People paid the emotional toll of supplying developed nations with attractively priced products.

These products brought alienation. Youth left the farms for the cities, first heading to ports and export processing zones, then to industrial parks, and finally to science parks. In these specialized areas, there are no shared family memories or close relationships, and the items produced have nothing to do with the workers' lives. Thus people find themselves further away from their own history, land, and community. Work becomes separate from life.

Also, the producer is separated from the consumer. The consumer only looks for the product with the best price and doesn't care where or how it was made, or who made it. And as long as the producer makes money, he doesn't care either who uses the products he toils over.

This thinking led to Taiwan's "economic miracle." As profits poured in from big orders, such alienation became normal and people felt the sacrifices they made were worthwhile. But now, with foreign investors pulling out and factories moving offshore, Taiwan is losing its place as "the world's factory." Business isn't as forecast, and the nation's economy is stagnant. At this moment, we have to ask ourselves what roads Taiwan has other than the one of struggling for foreign currency. Does this frustration in the world economy present an opportunity for internal transformation?

Fortunately, in 1994, the Council for Cultural Affairs began promoting community development--the first instance of such policies being aimed at the "local" situation. Soon afterward, the Council of Agriculture began assisting farmers in upgrading their products, the ROC Tourism Bureau laid out plans for the tourism industry, the National Youth Commission started programs to get young people to return to the farms to work, and the "Local Jewel" project of the Ministry of Economic Affairs' Small and Medium Enterprise Administration helped develop more than 100 local industries. After more than ten years of stumbling, localization is now taking shape and putting down roots. It's catching on, and many have tied their hopes to it.

Our cover story this month tells the story of these localized industries. Of course we can't expect these local efforts to take on global capitalism. We also shouldn't play them up too much--after all, their market share is still minute, and only a very small percentage of the population works in them. Their products are not fancy, the packaging a bit crude, and as yet no brand has made a marketing breakthrough.

It's true--there are still problems. A mountain covered in coffee shops that draw waves of visitors, for example, will have an environmental impact. But the idea behind this movement to build up the countryside embraces an improved cultural and environmental consciousness. Nantou County's Yuchih Township, for example, is producing organic black tea with the assistance of the Council of Agriculture. The tea is 100% pesticide-free, grown without artificial fertilizers, and harvested by hand. New tea plants are planted without abandoning the old tea plantations. The producers cherish the land and respect the consumer with an attitude of hospitality, sharing their best with everyone.

The important thing is, these industries have histories. There are stories passed down through the generations, and there is community interaction. And more importantly, in the face of global competition, these people are staying close to home and stabilizing their communities.

During last month's WTO meetings in Hong Kong, Korean farmers led big protests. Many people wondered why the farmers of Taiwan have remained silent. Perhaps it's that they feel no need to fight the tide of history--they're holding on to what's theirs, knowing that with hard work and creativity new roads will open for them.