The cultural and societal environment of the Republic of China (ROC) has been constantly reshaped by impacts from western cultures since the Qing dynasty faced foreign threats up to modern urbanization and industrialization. In this overview to the Social Development volume, Chang discusses the transformation of the society through four aspects of change: evolution of social structure, rearranging of social class and status, rise of mass public movements, and social benefits for the everyday citizen.

The transformation of social structure results from many factors. One is the expansion of the population due to advances in medicine, resulting in an aging society. As the extended family is gradually replaced by the nuclear family, and the role of a woman in the family changes, the concept of the traditional Chinese family structure plays an increasingly important role in continued care for the elderly within a family unit. A second factor is the shifting industry and education environment. Taiwan went from the agricultural society to industrialization, to meet needs of the international textile and electronics market. Another related factor is urbanization. Two main sources of population growth in large cities were from rural areas and immigration from Mainland China, bringing dense population and rising land prices to large cities, widening labor and education gaps between large and smaller cities. The last factor is the changing of ideologies, where social ideology is continuously challenged by the impact of western morals, technologies, and cultures. 

Class movement, rise of female status, and relationships between various ethnic groups bring changes in social class. As education alters social structure, it also triggers class movement, shifting the focus of the industrial environment from traditional agriculture to production, and expanding into the service industry. Rising businesses allow people to climb quickly from rags to riches, but simultaneously result in disparity in wealth, regional development, and education. The rise of female status first saw light with the demise of foot binding and education for women. Subsequently, women started to participate in political activities and take up governmental positions, influencing the passing of laws that accommodate women in various situations. Finally, as the Taiwan is a vibrant mix of various ethnic groups, maintaining harmony among these groups is an aim that has gained much. One effort of the government is to preserve traditional culture while building a broader, collective Taiwanese spirit. Another effort is to set up laws and policies that will not overlook and discriminate the minority, and allow equal opportunities in education, work, and social benefits. 

The concept of democracy and growing attention to the individual has given rise to public movements. Crowd violence was gradually replaced by well-organized public acts. Educated citizens lead movements to influence policy-makers, and the minority can voice out their opinions. Public organizations have also gained a more prominent position in the society, and strive not only for international recognition, but also call out for regional benefits and development. Though resources are still limited for these regional organizations, and often bound politically and economically, the prospect of their development is still worth looking forward to. Another major social power is the media. From print to broadcast and TV news, regional news has become the voice of the people. Nowadays, various media channels play a prominent role in social and political debate. With the invention of various multimedia technologies, it is hopeful that the future will bring a revolution in traditional media, as well as the need to provide more high-quality program content. 

The rising importance of living quality opens the topic of welfare. During the Chinese government, the students were required to have military and nursing training, since the welfare of citizens was tied to the welfare of the country and thus protecting the country was the first priority. As social circumstances change, citizens’ welfare relies on improving physical health and the establishing of moral values. The country owes its duty to preserving the health of every citizen. The medical system in Taiwan has developed to provide the public with good medical care. Gradually, a more complete medical system was established, local and large public hospital institutes were built, and the health insurance system in the 90s ensured essential healthcare for all. However, due to the commercializing of health products, the rising tension between doctor and patient, and the uneven distribution of medical resources, the healthcare system still has room for improvement. Leisure and consumer activities also influence the quality of living for the public. Commercialized activities for individuals, such as tourism and baseball games further open the international market. Social welfare has also seen its transformation, not only caring for the needy, but also provisioning policies that benefit the public in whole, as do non-profit charity organizations. With the aging society, the next problem policy makers will need to tackle is to provide a solution that can also take care of our elderly population. 

In conclusion, Chang praises the recent social developments that have led us out of a traditional, conservative society to a modern and constantly improving one. On the other hand, he opens up the issue of how these changes have an impact on societal identity and global recognition. Though constantly progressing, the Republic of China is still well-behind many developed countries. To balance national development with cultural and societal values is a challenge we currently face.