McDonald's in Taipei: Hamburgers, Betel nuts, and National Identity (Essay Sample)

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McDonald’s in Taipei: Hamburgers, Betel nuts, and National Identity
“‘McDonald’s in Taipei: Hamburgers, Betel nuts, and National Identity’” by David Wu is an article that evaluates the impact of food as a manifestation of national and cultural identity by the Taiwanese people. Wu traces significant chronological developments in the food industry in order to explain the political, economic, and socio-cultural changes that Taiwan has undergone from pre-colonial periods up to date.
Wu begins his analysis by providing a detailed historical review of the changes that occurred before, during, and after the food revolution. The writer reckons that the entry of transnational fast food chains in the country was a political statement. It was a direct renunciation of traditionalism associated with mainland China. Over the next decade, traditional cuisine made a strong comeback, as a sign of Taiwanese identity in the flurry of rapid globalization.
The writer’s discussion is the result of continuous research and observation of trends in Taiwan’s food industry. The bulk of research about the activities of McDonald’s seems to be collected from a single restaurant, which is purported to be representative of the transnational food chain restaurants. The author incorporates his own experiences along with information collected from local residents to draw conclusions. The article mentions the views of a local university-educated businessman, an old woman, and a young woman. Research could have also been conducted in several schools to evaluate the impact of the McDonald’s lifestyle among children.
Wu’s uses an aspect analytic frame to describe this social phenomenon. He begins by setting a clear thesis of the paper, to find out how food impacts on the political and cultural lives of Taiwanese citizens. The author finds out that food is a symbol of national and cultural identity, a fact that he goes on to explain by cross-examining major players of both traditional and modern food industries.
Wu uses a combination of both primary and secondary evidence to support his assertions. Observation is the main method used to collect evidence. This method is particularly effective since Wu is not a resident of Taiwan. Despite being a native of the country, he now lives in the United States. He visits his native home periodically. The fact that he is not a resident provides him with an opportunity to observe changes that have occurred between visits. Wu also conducts interviews on major stakeholders of the food industry. He incorporates the views of Bill Rose, the regional head of McDonald’s, local residents, businessmen, betel traders, school children, and other important stakeholders. The author also incorporates information from secondary sources to bolster his assertions.
The most important view of the article is that food has played a crucial role in forging the political and cultural identities in Taiwanese people. From the author’s perspective, Taiwan has undergone three food revolutions. In the mid-sixties, “the city (Taipei) was renowned as the repository for the great cuisines of mainland China” (Wu 111). Due to a constellation of political reasons, a radical transformation occurred in the country forcing residents to ignore mainland cuisine. “By the mid-1980’s most of these mainland-style restaurants had either disappeared or were hidden away in obscure neighborhoods” (Wu 111). The shift from mainland dishes was perceived as a show of discontent against mainland rule.
The establishment of McDonald’s as the first foreign food enterprise in 1984 was the beginning of another revolution. Buoyed by the large number of American soldier, foreign graduates, and a growing middle-class, McDonald’s took off in an instant. Within a decade since commencement of its operations, McDonald’s had expanded to include 131 new branches. This reflected the face of globalization and the significant growth of Taiwan into an industrial power. The success of McDonald’s is highly attributed to their renowned standards on hygiene and sanitation. They introduced a business model that appealed to the growing middle class, and represented the changing demographics of the country.
McDonald’s is a favorite hang...