About Yung Wei

Yung Wei is a professor of political science at the Shih Hsin University, President of the Vanguard Institute for Policy Studies, and President of Sino-American Cultural and Economic Association of the Republic of China.  A political scientist of international standing, Yung Wei’s career extends to many different fields, including professor of political science, heads of research institutions, presidents of academic and professional associations, member of the ROC Cabinet, and member of the Parliament of the Republic of China.

     Born in Wu-chan, Hupeh, China in 1937, Yung Wei received his education in the Chinese mainland, Taiwan and the United States.  He has a LL.B. degree from the National Chengchi University and a M.A. as well as a Ph.D. degree from the University of Oregon.  Before coming back to Taiwan in September 1975, Yung Wei had taught and done research at a number of colleges and universities in the United States, including the University of Nevada (1966-1968), Memphis State University, Tennessee (1968-1977), University of Michigan (1969), and Stanford University (1974-1975). 

In 1975, Yung Wei returned to Taiwan from the United States and became the Deputy Director of Institute of International Relations, National Chengchi University.  A year later, he joined the Executive Yuan (Cabinet) and became the Chairman of its Research, Development, and Evaluation Commission (RDEC), a post he held for twelve years.  During this relatively long tenure at the RDEC, he was credited to have introduced many of the theories and methods of policy science and behavioral sciences to administration reforms in the government of the Republic of China, especially in the areas of policy planning and computer application in government works.  In addition to governmental service, Yung Wei also has been an adjunct professor of political science at National Taiwan University, Chancellor of Sun Yat-sen Institution on Policy Research and Development, and the President of the Chinese Association of Political Science.

In 1991, Yung Wei ran for election and won a seat in the Legislative Yuan (Parliament).  During the three-year tenure in the ROC Parliament, Yung Wei served as the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee and led delegation representing the ROC Parliament to visit the United States, Japan, France, and Russia.

Yung Wei has been awarded various fellowships and visiting scholarships; among them are Distinguished Visiting Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University; Distinguished Visitor, Fairbank Center for East Asian Research, Harvard University; National Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University; Jeremiah Distinguished Speaker, University of Oregon; and Eisenhower Exchange Fellow. He also has been visiting Scholar at Brookings Institution, the Institute of Survey Research Center of the University of Michigan, and the Bureau of Applied Social Research at Columbia University. 

Yung Wei has received various honors and awards, including Outstanding Educator of America, Eisenhower Fellowship, medal for Outstanding Service from the Executive Yuan (Cabinet of the Republic of China) for distinguished service in the government; First Class Medal for Policy Research, Planning and Evaluation, also from the ROC Cabinet; and Hua Hsia Medal for participation in constitutional reform.

Yung Wei is the author of many books in the fields of political behavior, policy science, international relations, and comparative political development.  His numerous articles have appeared in professional journals in the Republic of China, the United States, German, Japan, and the Republic of Korea, including Journal of Politics, Polity, International Lawyer, Studies in Comparative Communism, Asian Survey, Issues and Studies, Asian Perspective, and Asian Forum.  Yung Wei is also a member of Pi Sigma Alpha, American Political Science Association, International Studies Association, and International Institute for Strategic Studies.