ABSTRACT
‘Relativism’ for comparative purposes - whether in relation to specific social policy objectives or to notions of the good society per se - can in the context seem like a denial of values and an abnegation of concern. Ramesh Mishra’s idea of universally applicable yet gradeable ‘social standards’, represents another style of response to essentially the same issue. Taiwan has been moving, over the same period, from an opposite starting point, yet possibly, ultimately, in a converging social policy direction. During the 1970s, however, key developments took place which bore upon Taiwan way over and the worldwide effects of the oil price shocks. There are numerous stark contrasts to be drawn between the UK and Taiwan, historically, culturally and geo-politically. Taiwan has long been geographically a disputed and disputable part of China and politically - from 1949 - a potential breakaway bloc.
