Analysis framework
Kuei-Tien Chou · 2025
Chapter 2 presents a thesis on “developmental environmentalism” within the broader framework of reflexive governance. It examines the complexities of transboundary governance in addressing global climate change, underscoring the necessity for an interdisciplinary approach rooted in the social sciences. This chapter reviews empirical studies on the structural limitations of green transition strategies, industrial policies, and civic engagement in East Asian countries in terms of developmental environmentalism, which matches the investigation of Taiwan’s green transition. Thus, I propose a thesis on “developmental net-zeroism,” which includes—besides the governance characteristics of developmental states—the challenges concerning carbon reduction and net-zero emissions. It explores whether these nations can maintain robust transformative capacities or face heightened systemic risks under delayed hidden governance amid intensified economic, social, and environmental conflicts during the net-zero transition. This analysis critically interprets the predicaments and challenges faced by East Asian states in the global industrial chain toward carbon neutrality.