I received my Ph.D. in Political Science from the Graduate Institute of Political Science at National Taiwan University in 1994. Over the course of nearly three decades in academia, I have dedicated my work to the following areas of inquiry: 1. The Formation of Taiwanese Communities and Political Identities. I have examined the development of collective identity under Japanese colonial rule, with a particular focus on the role of Taiwanese resistance movements. My research highlights the distinct features of the Taiwanese experience in Asia. 2. The transfer of ruling power in Taiwan after World War II and the issue of Taiwan’s international status. By examining the contrasting historical memories of the new ruling regime and Taiwanese society, I explore how tensions accumulated during the postwar decolonization process, ultimately leading to the outbreak of the February 28 Incident. My research also focuses on the political violence exercised by the ruling authorities and its lasting impact on Taiwanese society.3. Taiwan’s Transition to Democracy. I have investigated the democratization process in Taiwan, emphasizing the interactions among the United States, the Kuomintang regime, and Taiwanese society from the Cold War era through the Third Wave of democratization.

• Ph. D. Department of Political Science, National Taiwan University, 1994.
• M. A. Department of Political Science, National Taiwan University, 1987.
• B. A. Department of Political Science, National Taiwan University, 1984.

Current Position and Academic Experience

• 2025, August 1 — : Distinguished Professor, Department of History, National Taiwan University.
• 2013, February 1 — : Professor, Department of History, National Taiwan University.
• 2009, August 1 —2011, July 31: Chair and Professor, Graduate Institute of Taiwan History, National Chengchi University.
• 2009, February 1 —2013, January 31: Professor, Graduate Institute of Taiwan History, National Chengchi University.
• 2005, August 1 —2009, January 31: Associate Professor, Graduate Institute of Taiwan History, National Chengchi University.
• 2003, August 1 — 2005, July 31: Chair and Associate Professor, Department of Public Administration, Tamkang University.
• 1995, August 1 — 2003, July 31: Associate Professor, Department of Public Administration, Tamkang University.
• 1995, February 1 — 1995, July 31: Deputy Editor-in-chief , The Independence Evening Post.
• 1994, October 1 — 1995, February 28: Reporter, Political Section, China Times.
• 1987, June 1 — 1992, October 31: Reporter and Section Chief, Political Section, The Independence Evening Post.
   

Academic Service

• 2024–present: Co-Convener, Division of History, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, National Science and Technology Council (NSTC).
• 2024–present: Member, Editorial Board of Historical Inquiry, Department of History, National Taiwan University.
• 2020–present: Member, Editorial Board of Taiwan Historical Research, Institute of Taiwan History, Academia Sinica.
• 2018–2020: Member, Editorial Board of the Bulletin of Taiwan Historical Research, NTNU, Graduate Institute of Taiwan History, National Taiwan Normal University.
• 2023–2025: Editor-in-Chief, The Journal of Taiwan Historical Association, Taiwan Historical Association.
• 2022 & 2023: Project Co-investigator, Nourishing Talents in Historical Research, National Science and Technology Council (NSTC).
• 2018–2022: Member, Editorial Board of the Bulletin of Academia Historica, Academia Historica.
   

Community Service

• 2023–present: Member, Advisory Committee, National Human Rights Museum, Ministry of Culture.
• 2020–present: Board Member, Central News Agency.
• 2017–present: Member, Acquisition Review Committee, National Museum of Taiwan History.
• 2012–present: Board Member, Yan Ping High School. 
• 2008–present: Member, National Archives Review Committee, National Archives Administration.
• 2018–2025: Chairperson / Board Member / Supervisor, Taiwan Association for Truth and Reconciliation.
• 2018–2022: Member, Advisory Committee, Academia Historica.
• 2016–2024: Board Member, Yin Hai-kuang Foundation.
• 2014–2017: Board Member / Supervisor, Taiwan Democracy Watch.
• 2014–2023: Board Member, Tsao Yung-ho Foundation.

Academic Awards

• NSC Class A Research Award, 1995, 1997, 1999
• NSTC Outstanding Research Award, 2025
• Distinguished Professor, Department of History, National Taiwan University, 2025–2028

Teaching Awards

• Outstanding Teacher, College of Liberal Arts, National Taiwan University, 2014
• Excellent General Education Course under the “Individual-type General Education Curriculum Improvement Program,” Semesters 2014-1, 2017-1
• Excellence in Teaching Award, National Taiwan University, 2015, 2017, 2023
• Distinguished Teacher, National Taiwan University, 2018

Other Awards

• Golden Tripod Awards (Book Category), Ministry of Culture, 2022 
  Winner: Political Archives Speak: A Citizen’s Guide to the Age of Freedom
• Ye Bo-wen Social Service Award, Jiancheng Rotary Club, 2019
• Wu Yong-fu Cultural Criticism Award, 2018
  Winner: Reconstructing the February 28 Incident: The Postwar U.S.–China Regime, the Chinese Mode of Governance, and Taiwan.
• International Book Exhibition – Non-Fiction Book of the Year, 2014
  Winner: A Century of Pursuit: The Story of Taiwan’s Democratic Movement
• China Times “Top Ten Books of the Year,” 2013
  Winner: A Century of Pursuit: The Story of Taiwan’s Democratic Movement
• Books.com.tw Humanities Category “Best of the Year,” 2013
  Winner: A Century of Pursuit: The Story of Taiwan’s Democratic Movement
• Asia Weekly Annual “Top Ten Books,” Ranked No. 1, 2013
  Winner: A Century of Pursuit: The Story of Taiwan’s Democratic Movement
• Master’s Thesis Award, National Policy Research Center, 1987
  Winner: A Study of the Taiwanese Cultural Association during the Japanese Colonial Period: The Formation and Disintegration of the Anti-Japanese Coalition

Books, Dissertation, Theses

• Chen, Tsui-lien. Resistance and Identity of the Taiwanese, 1920–1950 (Revised Edition). Taipei: SpringHill Publishing Ltd, 2025. (Originally published in Taipei: Yuan-Liou Publishing, 2008.)
• Chen, Tsui-lien. Revisiting the Political History of Post-War Taiwan: The Triangular Relationship between the United States, the Kuomintang Government, and Taiwanese Civil Society. Taipei: SpringHill Publishing Ltd, 2023.
• Chen, Chin-Ching, Tsui-lien Chen, Ching-Hsuan Su, Chun-Ying Wu, and Cheng-hui Lin. Political Archives Speak: A Citizen’s Guide to the Age of Freedom. New Taipei City: National Human Rights Museum, 2021.
• Chen, Tsui-lien. The Dream of Autonomy: Taiwan’s Democratic Movement from the Japanese Colonial Era to the February 28 Incident. Taipei: SpringHill Publishing Ltd, 2020. (Originally published in Tsui-lien Chen, Nai-teh Wu, and Hui-ling Hu, A Century of Pursuit: The Story of Taiwan’s Democratic Movement. New Taipei: Walkers Cultural Enterprise Ltd., 2013.)
• Chen, Tsui-lien. Reconstructing the February 28 Incident: The Postwar U.S.–China Regime, the Chinese Mode of Governance, and Taiwan. New Taipei City: Acropolis, 2017.
• Chen, Tsui-lien, and Kai-yang Li. The April 6 Incident and National Taiwan University. Taipei: National Taiwan University Library, 2017.
• Chen, Tsui-lien. Revised Taipei City Gazetteer, Vol. 9, Biographies: Politics and Economy. Taipei: Taipei City Archives Commission, 2014.
• Li, You-chi, dictate; interviewed by Tsui-lien Chen; recorded by Yi-fen Lo and Si-ting Lei. Oral History of Mr. Li You-chi. Wufeng: Assembly Affairs Museum, Legislative Yuan, 2010.
• Kang, Ning-hsiang, dictate; interviewed by Tsui-lien Chen; recorded by Yi-fen Lo and Shih-hsien Chang. Oral History of Mr. Kang Ning-hsiang. Wufeng: Assembly Affairs Museum, Legislative Yuan, 2010.
• Cheng, Shui-chih, dictate; interviewed by Tsui-lien Chen; recorded by Yi-fen Lo. Oral History of Mr. Cheng Shui-chih. Wufeng: Assembly Affairs Museum, Legislative Yuan, 2010.
• Hsieh, Shen-shan, dictate; interviewed by Tsui-lien Chen; recorded by Yi-fen Lo and Si-ting Lei. Oral History of Mr. Hsieh Shen-shan. Wufeng: Assembly Affairs Museum, Legislative Yuan, 2010.
• Hsu, Hsueh-chi, Lung-chih Chang, and Tsui-lien Chen. Surrounded by a City of Books: An Oral History of Mr. Lai Yung-hsiang. Taipei: Yuan-liu, 2007.
• Chen, Tsui-lien. Factional Struggles and Power Politics: Alternative Perspective on the February 28 Tragedy. Taipei: China Times Publishing, 1995.
• Chen, Tsui-lien. “A Study of the February 28 Incident.” PhD diss., Department of Political Science, National Taiwan University, 1994.
• Chen, Tsui-lien. “A Study of the Taiwanese Cultural Association during the Japanese Colonial Period: The Formation and Disintegration of the Anti-Japanese Coalition.” MA thesis, Department of Political Science, National Taiwan University, 1987.

Journal Articles

• Chen, Tsui-lien. "Impact of the 1960 Collapse of Syngman Rhee’s Regime and Taiwan’s Authoritarian Countermeasures Against Opposition Movements." Taiwan Historical Research 32, no. 1 (March 2025): 135-178.
• Chen, Tsui-lien. "Peace Treaty with Japan and Legal Status of Taiwan under the Situation of Cold War in East Asia." Taiwan Historical Research 30, no. 2 (June 2023): 95-142.
• Chen, Tsui-lien. " The Rise and Fall of General Wang Sheng and His Liu Shao-kang Office: Twilight of Authoritarianism in Taiwan, 1980-1983." Bulletin of Academia Historica 89 (September 2021): 121-123, 125-172.
• Chen, Tsui-lien. "The Internationalization of the Taiwan Issue and the Kuomintang Government’s Countermeasures in 1950." Taiwan Historical Research 28, no. 1 (March 2021): 129-178.
• Chen, Tsui-lien. "Cold War and Decolonization: Exploration and Evaluation of US Government on Taiwan Independence Movement in Early Postwar Period (1947-1950)." Taiwan Historical Research 26, no. 3 (September 2019): 91-138.
• Chen, Tsui-lien. "Fu Ssu-nien, the President of National Taiwan University during the White Terror Period (1949-1950)." Historical Inquiry 62 (December 2018): 213-265.
• Chen, Tsui-lien. " The Historical Rectification in Postwar Taiwan (1945-1947)." Historical Inquiry 58 (December 2016): 195-248.
• Chen, Tsui-lien. "Lin Cheng-lu: A Pioneer of Taiwan’s Social Movements." The Journal of Taoyuan History 2 (September 2016): 151–156.
• Chen, Tsui-lien. "How the Mainlanders Viewed Taiwan (1945–1947): Anti-Japanese Memory and the Civil War Factor." Taiwan Folkways Magazine 66, no. 2 (June 2016): 127–170.
• Chen, Tsui-lien. "Political Trial from China: Chen Yi-song, Liu Ming and Bureau of Investigation and Statistics." Taiwan Historical Research 21, no. 3 (September 2014): 137-180.
• Chen, Tsui-lien. "Taishō Democracy and Taiwanese Students in Japan." Bulletin of Taiwan Historical Research, NTNU 6 (December 2013): 53–99.
• Chen, Tsui-lien. “Whose War? Taiwanese Intellectuals’ Perceptions of War (1937–1945) as Seen Through Diaries.” Colonial Culture Studies 12 (2013): 16–26.
• Chen, Tsui-lien. “Taiwan’s Legal Status and the Political Vision of Taiwanese Elites in the Early Postwar Period.” The Hiroshima Law Journal 34, no. 4 (2011): 1–36.
• Chen, Tsui-lien. “Taiwan Historical Research 2008: Retrospect and Prospect.” Taiwan Historical Research 17, no. 2 (June 2010): 171–211.
• Chen, Tsui-lien. “New Trends in Taiwanese Political History Research: From Resisting to Deconstructing Authority.” Newsletter for Research in Chinese Studies 28, no. 4 (November 2009): 1–9.
• Chen, Tsui-lien. “The Predicament of Historical Justice: Ethnic Issues and the Discourses on the 228 Uprising.” Bulletin of the Academia Historica 16 (June 2008): 179–222.
• Chen, Tsui-lien. “The Identity Transition of the Taiwanese during the Early Postwar Period.” Journal of Cross-Strait Studies 4 (December 2007): 81–124.
• Chen, Tsui-lien. "Vision and Frustration of Post WWII Taiwanese Intellectuals: The Case of the Yan-Ping College." Taiwan Historical Research 13, no. 2 (December 2006): 123-167.
• Chen, Tsui-lien. “Interpreting Hsu Te-hui’s Report on Counter-Espionage Work during the February 28 Incident in Taiwan.” Taiwan Historical Materials Studies 27 (August 2006): 132–147.
• Chen, Tsui-lien, and Li-fen Huang. “Political Socialization and Changes in Political Identity: A Case Study of ‘Goa-Seng-Lang Association For Taiwan Independence ’”, Journal of Law and Politics 19 (November 2005): 1–40.
• Chen, Tsui-lien. “Tangwai Publications and Taiwan’s Democratic Movement (1973–1991).” Report of Historico-Geographical Studies of Taiwan 55, no. 1 (March 2004): 1–29.
• Chen, Tsui-lien. “A Review of Historical Documents on the February 28 Incident.” Taiwan Historical Materials Studies 22 (February 2004): 148–187.
• Chen, Tsui-lien. “Beyond Resistance and Compliance: A Study of the Home Rule Movement in Taiwan under Japanese ruled.” Taiwanese Journal of Political Science 18 (June 2003): 141–169.
• Chen, Tsui-lien. "Decolonization VS. Recolonization: The Debate over ‘T’ai-jen nu-hua’ of 1946 in Taiwan." Taiwan Historical Research 9, no. 2 (June 2002): 145-201.
• Chen, Tsui-lien. “Recent Studies on National Identity in Taiwan.” Bulletin of Academia Historica 33 (December 2002): 10–17.
• Chen, Tsui-lien. “An Analysis of the Political Ecology during the Fifth Legislative Yuan.” The Taiwan Law Review 86 (July 2002): 62–72.
• Chen, Tsui-lien. “Personnel of the Taiwan Provincial Government after the February 28 Incident.” Journal of Law and Politics 8 (August 1997): 33, 35, 37–61.
• Chen, Tsui-lien. “The Three People’s Principles Youth Corps and Postwar Taiwan.” Journal of Law and Politics 6 (July 1996): 71–88.
• Chen, Tsui-lien. “The February 28 Incident and the United States.” Journal of Law and Politics 5 (January 1996): 1–41.

Book Chapters

• Chen, Tsui-lien. “Local Elections, Ethnic Relations, and Opposition Party: U.S. Stance on Taiwan’s Political Development, 1950–1960.” In The International Conference on Elections in Taiwan History, edited by Shu-feng Wu et al., 71–102. Taipei: Academia Historica, 2020.
• Chen, Tsui-lien. “The Taiwanese Communist Party Before and After the War.” In The International Conference on Chien Chi and the Taiwanese Peasant Movement, edited by Ching-jung Chang, 3–17. Tainan: Graduate Institute of Taiwan Culture, National University of Tainan, 2012.
• Chen, Tsui-lien. “Secret Police Rule and the Atmosphere of the White Terror in Taiwan under Martial Law Era.” In White Terror and Transitional Justice during the Martial Law Period, edited by Yen-hsien Chang and Mei-jung Chen, 43–69. Taipei: Wu San-Lien foundation for Taiwan Historical Materials, 2009.
• Chen, Tsui-lien. “Political Cases of the White Terror Resulting from Internal Conflict within the Intelligence Agencies.” In White Terror and Transitional Justice during the Martial Law Period, edited by Yen-hsien Chang and Mei-jung Chen, 253–265. Taipei: Wu San-Lien foundation for Taiwan Historical Materials, 2009.
• Chen, Tsui-lien. “Elites and the Masses: The Relationship among the Taiwanese Cultural Association, Farmers’ Associations, and Taiwan’s Peasant Movement.” In Local Elites and Taiwan’s Peasant Movement, edited by Tsu-yu Chen, 87–126. Taipei: Institute of Taiwan History, Academia Sinica, 2008.
• Yan, Wan-ling, and Tsui-lien Chen. “A Preliminary Study of the Forced Repatriation Policy against Political Opponents in the 1960s: Focusing on the Case of Liu Wen-ching.” In Postwar Archives and Historical Research: Proceedings of the 9th Conference on the History of the Republic of China, edited by Hsiang-yu Huang, 873–906. Taipei: Academia Historica, 2008.
• Chen, Tsui-lien. “Historical Justice in Taiwan: Discussing the Kuomintang’s Discourse on the February 28 Incident.” In Proceedings of the 60th Anniversary International Conference on the February 28 Incident: Human Rights and Transitional Justice, edited by Chen-chung Yang, 343–382. Taipei: Memorial Foundation of 228, 2007.
• Chen, Tsui-lien. “Intelligence and Security Agencies in Taiwan during the Martial Law Period: The Case of the Kaohsiung Incident.” In Taiwan’s Democratic Development in the Twentieth Century: Proceedings of the 7th Conference on the History of the Republic of China, edited by Chien-kuo Hu, 145–176. Taipei: Academia Historica, 2004.
• Chen, Tsui-lien. “Political Associations and the Political Ecology of Early Postwar Taiwan.” In Essays in Celebration of the 80th Birthday of Mr. Yung-ho Tsao, edited by Editorial Committee of the Essays in Celebration of the 80th Birthday of Mr. Yung-ho Tsao, 289–328. Taipei: Lexis Book Co., Ltd., 2001.

Conference Papers, Invited Presentations and Lectures

• Chen, Tsui‑lien. “The Practice of Transitional Justice in Taiwan.” Paper presented at Crossing the 1949 Divide: The Hoover Archives and Contemporary Chinese History, Stanford University, 2017.
• Chen, Tsui‑lien. “Party Formation Movement from The ‘Free China’ Group and Ethnic Issues in 1950s Taiwan.” Paper presented at the Conference on the February 28 Incident and Postwar Political Development in Taiwan, Taipei: Humanities and Social Sciences Building, Academia Sinica, August 10–11, 2015.
• Chen, Tsui‑lien. “Democratic Thought during Taishō Period and Taiwanese Artists” Paper presented at the International Academic Seminar on Modern Taiwanese Art, Tokyo: Tokyo University of the Arts, 2014.
• Chen, Tsui-lien. “The Genealogy of the Taiwanese Leftist: 1920–1950.” Paper presented at the International Conference on Postwar Social and Economic Changes in Taiwan, Taipei: Humanities and Social Sciences Building (North Wing, 3rd Floor), Academia Sinica, December 23–24, 2009.

Books Edited

• Chen, Tsui-lien, Makoto Kawashima, and Hironobu Hoshina, eds. Interdisciplinary Young Scholars’ Research on Taiwan History, Vol. 5. Taipei: Graduate Institute of Taiwan History, National Chengchi University, 2013.
• Kawashima, Makoto, Masayoshi Matsunaga, and Tsui-lien Chen, eds. Interdisciplinary Young Scholars’ Research on Taiwan History, Vol. 4. New Taipei: Daw Shang Publishing Co., Ltd., 2011.
• Chen, Tsui-lien, ed. The February 28 Incident and Young Students: Selected Archives on the February 28 Incident. Taipei: National Archives Administration, 2005.

Book Reviews and Other

• Chen, Tsui‑lien. “The February 28 Incident.” Fountain of Youth Bimonthly 16 (January 2008): 82–88.
• Chen, Tsui‑lien. “Oral Interview with Mr. Sung Wen‑bin.” Taiwan Historical Materials Studies 28 (December 2006): 192–200.
• Chen, Tsui‑lien, and Tung‑ching Lin. “Oral Interview with Mr. Liu Heng‑ching.” Oral History 12 (April 2004): 387–398.

1. The History of Democratic Movements in Postwar Taiwan

This course focuses on the formation of Taiwan's democratic system after World War II. It examines the types of authoritarian rule, the struggles of democratic movements during different periods, the impact of international factors, the characteristics and achievements of Taiwan's democratic transition, as well as address the legacy of authoritarianism, and the current challenges and prospects for Taiwan's democratic system.

2. Political History of Postwar Taiwan

This course emphasizes the interactions among the U.S. government, the Republic of China, and Taiwanese society from 1945 through the 1990s. Using a thematic approach and archival sources, students are guided to explore key issues in Taiwan’s political development.

3. Analysis on Historical Materials of Political History in postwar Taiwan

This course introduces the collections of archival materials on postwar Taiwanese political history preserved in major institutions in Taiwan and abroad. It surveys the latest availability of various sources—including Chinese and foreign archives, newspapers, diaries, memoirs, and oral histories—and engages students in the interpretation and discussion of selected materials.

4.Seminar on Political History of Postwar Taiwan

The political history of postwar Taiwan is characterized by its highly interdisciplinary nature. Beyond historical research, fields such as political science, sociology, law, and cultural studies have contributed extensively to this area. Major approaches include postcolonial studies, comparative studies of authoritarian regimes, Cold War and new Cold War history, theories of nationalism, and social movement theory. Increasing attention has been given to dialogues between historical research and social science heoretical perspectives. This course integrates diverse approaches and organizes them into three units according to historical sequence: (1) Politics and society in early postwar Taiwan; (2) Characteristics of Taiwan’s authoritarian regime; and (3) International contexts, democratic transition, and identity narratives.

5.Seminar on Political History of Taiwan under Japanese rule

This course is divided into several parts: empire and colonial rule, colonial modernity, resistance and identity, colonizer and colonized, and decolonization and re-colonization. Each unit spans approximately three to four weeks, during which students read and discuss representative works of the past two decades on the political history of Taiwan under Japanese rule. Through close reading and discussion, students become familiar with key research topics and works, while also developing the ability to engage in academic dialogue, critique, and challenge.

6.History of Taiwan (Ⅱ) 

This course covers Taiwan’s history from the Japanese colonial period to the postwar era and adopts a thematic structure, with each unit lasting about two weeks.For the Japanese colonial period, the course is divided into four units: 1.Social upheaval and responses; 2.The Japanese Empire’s designs and practices of colonial rule in Taiwan; 3.Coloniality and modernity; 4.Economic depression, war, and national integration.

For the postwar period, the course covers: 1.Politics and society in early postwar Taiwan; 2.The establishment of the party-state authoritarian regime; 3.The political economy behind the “economic miracle”; ; and 4. Taiwan's Democratic Transition