Starting in the 1990s, area studies in Taiwan focused on customs and humanities. Influenced by IT maturity and democratization, it is the key to debunking globalization myths and fostering national identity. The ‘Tamsui’ and ‘Yilan’ studies of Tamkang University exemplifies the research. Whether the university can play a role as the local government’s think tank depends on two key factors: ‘Who is leading the meeting’? And ‘Who will be the biggest winner’!
Keywords: Area studies, Local governance, Region revitalization, Brand story, National identity
