Heteroglossic Asia

<p><em>Heteroglossic Asia</em> presents an analysis of geographic historical cultural economic spatial and political factors underlying Taiwan’s maritime urbanity by means of case studies based on Taipei and Kaohsiung; two cities which represent the multi-accentual character of Taiwan’s urban environment and its recent changes and development through architecture.</p><p>Focussing on the concept of a heteroglossic Asia Pacific exemplified by the analysis of Taiwan’s urban transformation the study argues that Taiwan’s urban environment shows a form of intended fuzziness which cannot be described as resting on either a simplified nationalist base or chaotic societal anxiety. Rather this form lies between binary poles: autocracy and democracy nation state and day-to-day life top-down and bottom-up orientations orthodoxy and hybridisation. </p>