Abstract
Free China Magazine is considered as the origin of “free economy” discourse in post-war Taiwan. This study’s core puzzle is: is that true? What is the motive and historical context of this discursive change? First, this study review existing researches of the economic discourse of Free China Magazine, then how they construct a continuum of free economy discourse. Methodologically, this study is inspired by two approaches: critical discourse analysis and Foucault’s archaeology of knowledge, especially focus on the order of discourse and strategies of discourse. Analysis divides into three types of text: first type is “free economy” text, which is selected by other researchers as example. Second type is “non-free economy” text, which is ignored by other researchers. Third type is “ambiguous” text, which is interpreted as the “free economy” text. The results suggested the economic discourse of Free China journal is discontinued, heterogeneous and flexible. And the motive and historic context of this discursive change are white terror and economic reform by KMT government. Keyword: Free China Magazine, free economy, discourse analysis