Anthony Giddens has published more than 35 books, which have been translated into more than 30 languages. Moreover, his influence is not confined to academia. In Taiwan, his "third way" ideas are an important reference for President Chen Shui-bian's "new middle path." Giddens argues that the most important current development is globalization, in the face of which both left- and right-wing ideas have limited application. Giddens thus advocates a "third way" between left and right.
The third way is seen as being center-left on the spectrum; it is a reformed version of the welfare state. It became the theoretical foundation for the transformation of Britain's Labour Party at the end of the 1990s, and also influenced a number of social democratic parties, including those in Germany and Eastern Europe. In Asia, this concept has been given more serious consideration since the regional financial crisis rocked confidence in the market mechanism. The third way has swept the globe, and Taiwan is no exception.
In 1999, then presidential candidate Chen Shui-bian was invited by Giddens to go to the London School of Economics and deliver a talk on the "new middle path" in Taiwan. Giddens also presented the president with a copy of his book and wished him well in the election.
The primary object of inviting Giddens to Taiwan was to send top government officials "to school" on the subject of the challenges and prospects for the "new middle path" around the globe. Giddens told them that the traditional left and right have collapsed, and there is recognition that the state cannot leave everything to the market, yet cannot deliver unlimited social welfare.
When meeting Giddens, President Chen declared that the scholar's ideas have not only influenced British politics, but were critical to his own election on a platform of a new middle path or third way. He called Giddens his teacher, and declared that "if you follow this teacher, you will never go wrong."
On the 16th, Giddens gave an address, open to the public, on the progress and consequences of globalization. He argued that globalization is inevitable, but said that the progress of this trend must be monitored and managed, to prevent it from producing out-of-control effects.
Though there was a strongly political flavor to Giddens' visit, commentators reflected that while his ideas are no cure-all for Taiwan, the issues he is concerned about are of direct relevance to Taiwan's current circumstance. Now the main "homework" to be done in Taiwan is to apply these ideas to open up prior blind spots.
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