South Korean Identity and Global Foreign Policy

South Korean Identity and Global Foreign Policy
Author: Patrick Flamm
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 205
Release: 2019-05-13
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 0429514239

In the 20th century, South Korea was usually seen as a "shrimp amongst whales", a minor player with limited agency in regional and global affairs. Korea’s risen status as a "middle power" today, however, begs the question about related changes in the South Korean identity or "sense of self" in the world. In this book, Patrick Flamm presents the first comprehensive and agency oriented empirical account of South Korean international state identity and Seoul’s global foreign policy in the 21st century. Advancing a performative and narrative understanding of identity in International Relations, Flamm uses South Korea’s global engagement in peacekeeping and climate diplomacy to offer much-needed insight into the various identity narratives and role conceptions at play. In the case of peacekeeping and climate diplomacy, South Korea’s identity as an international actor has been dominated by practices of self-identification that position the country at the brink of advanced countries, aspiring to lead the rest of the world but with the overall objective to maintain national autonomy in a changing regional and global context. South Korean Identity and Global Foreign Policy is a must-read for scholars of International Relations, Foreign Policy Analysis and Asian/Korean Studies.

Global Expectations for Korean Unification

Global Expectations for Korean Unification
Author: Kyuryoon Kim et al.
Publisher: 길잡이미디어
Total Pages: 428
Release: 2014-12-31
Genre: Korea
ISBN: 8984797863

The current research aims to provide analytical understandings on the costs and benefits of Korean unification from political, social, and economic aspects. Upon the two years of earlier works, we constructed an analytical model encompassing both spatial and temporal dimensions of the unification process, and built comprehensive architecture, ‘the Guiding Type of Unification.’ Based on this model, we have broaden the scope of the research by collecting diverse perspectives from the worldwide experts of the leading countries. We expect to observe the global trends of world governance. Indeed, the increasing importance of Group of Twenty (G‐20) countries in managing global problems reflects both political and social aspects of the changes occurring in global governance. Another reason for this would be South Korea’s diversified international relations in the recent years. Hence, it seems necessary to take a closer look on the international dimensions of Korean unification. In this vein, we requested thirteen experts of the leading countries to express their opinions on Korean unification. In order to collect international perspectives in a coordinated manner, scholars were provided with a guideline to include their perspectives on the expected effects of Korean Unification and the potential roles of their countries during and after the process. Participants were also asked to present candid implications for Korean unification. Argentina, whose food supply is abundant, laid stress on providing assistance in terms of food security during the unification. Australia, who has special concerns in Asian security, suggested a comprehensive support not only as a mediator but also as one of the U.S. alliance. Due to remote distance to Asia, Brazil is relatively less affected by the unification. Brazil, however, expressed that it has a keen interest in transmission of its experience regarding nuclear issues with Argentina. Similar to Brazil’s stance, the effects of the unification influence is indirect to Canada. Nevertheless, Canada could play a role in providing humanitarian assistance, and could be a potential destination for North Korean refugee resettlement. France, one of the most influential members in the European Union and the United Nations, made a suggestion to promote institution building in East Asia that can promote stability in the region. Germany, the only country who had experienced unification, presented its interest in participating actively in the process of Korean unification through public and private sectors. India assumed that the unification of Korea leads to the denuclearization of the peninsula, and would see this as a positive sign for stability of the region, since it would limit or end North Korea’s nuclear weapon transmits with Pakistan. Indonesia could contribute to regional peace and stability through ASEAN and its extensions as South Korea can call upon Indonesia to engage in the peace process. Italy, who especially pointed out the role of European Union as a whole, is well-poised to contribute to economic and social development with North Korea through technical assistance. Mexico can, and expressed its willingness to play an active role in the unification process through international organizations. South Africa, who had been successful in national reconciliation and denuclearization, is very likely to provide its experience and can be a strong voice for the NPT and arms control in the international society. Advocating South Korea’s policy in Korean unification, Turkey explicitly mentioned that it will side with Seoul if there is a possible conflict in the peninsula. The author emphasized that the international community must be well-informed on how Korean unification will take place. Last but not least, the United Kingdom author suggested that Koreans will have to resolve emotional conflicts for reconciliation. Considering how both Koreas have dealt educational matters concerning the division of the peninsula, this may face a major challenge in the future generation. Thirteen countries’ diversely manifested positions on the unifying process are indicative of perceptual change that the issue of Korean unification is no longer a regional issue, but an international one, in which multiple actors have their own stakes within. Upon the previously suggested implications, we categorized the countries into three groups: bystanders, supporters, and interveners. This categorization reflects the assertiveness of each country, or coercive level of each country’s assistance instrumented towards the two Koreas during the unifying process. In the conclusion, based on our final analysis, we provided recommendations for the policy makers. First, diversified diplomacy creates an amicable international environment for unification policies beyond the power politics of the Four Powers. Second, activation of leading countries’ roles is strategically advantageous to activate the meaningful roles of these leading countries to minimize the Four Powers’ concerns. Third, emphasizing the formation of multilateral system would provide leading countries with an additional motivation to actively participate in the unification process. Furthermore, multilateral efforts to achieve Korean unification are also expected to contribute to the furtherance of democratic elements in the dynamics of international relations as a whole. Fourth, it is now high time for us to conduct more public diplomacy by devising new and creative methodologies. The global research project of this kind could be one of the most effective public diplomatic tools. Lastly, the unification between two Koreas can no longer be considered as a regional issue within Northeast Asia since others, including the leading countries, conceive their national interests along the process of unification on the Korean peninsula in diverse ways. Overall, thirteen countries’ recommendations underline the significance of collective efforts in addressing the unification process and suggest South Korea to learn lessons from the experience that they have undergone in the past. Keywords: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, South Africa, Turkey, United Kingdom, Expectation, Role, Effect ------------- CONTENTS ------------- Acknowledgments Abstract Ⅰ. INTRODUCTION Ⅱ. EFFECTS AND ROLES 1. Argentina 2. Australia 3. Brazil 4. Canada 5. France 6. Germany 7. India 8. Indonesia 9. Italy 10. Mexico 11. South Africa 12. Turkey 13. United Kingdom Ⅲ. ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION 1. Expected Effect 2. Potential Roles 3. Classification of Leading Countries Ⅳ. CONCLUSION References Recent Publications

Complexity, Security and Civil Society in East Asia

Complexity, Security and Civil Society in East Asia
Author: Peter Hayes
Publisher: Open Book Publishers
Total Pages: 270
Release: 2015-06-22
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1783741120

Complexity, Security and Civil Society in East Asia offers the latest understanding of complex global problems in the region, including nuclear weapons, urban insecurity, energy, and climate change. Detailed case studies of China, North and South Korea, and Japan demonstrate the importance of civil society and ‘civic diplomacy’ in reaching shared solutions to these problems in East Asia and beyond. Each chapter describes regional civil society initiatives that tackle complex challenges to East Asia’s security. In doing so, the book identifies key pressure points at which civil society can push for constructive changes¯especially ones that reduce the North Korean threat to its neighbors. Unusually, this book is both theoretical and practical. Complexity, Security and Civil Society in East Asia presents strategies that can be led by civil society and negotiated by its diplomats to realize peace, security, and sustainability worldwide. It shows that networked civic diplomacy offers solutions to these urgent issues that official ‘complex diplomacy’ cannot. By providing a new theoretical framework based on empirical observation, this volume is a must read for diplomats, scholars, students, journalists, activists, and individual readers seeking insight into how to solve the crucial issues of our time.

Regional Environmental Politics in Northeast Asia

Regional Environmental Politics in Northeast Asia
Author: Jeongwon Bourdais Park
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 269
Release: 2018-11-12
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 1351400339

The share of global CO2 emissions from the core Northeast Asian (NEA) countries in 2015 was estimated to be as high as 33.63 percent. Representing 28.21, 3.67, and 1.75 percent of total global emissions, China, Japan, and South Korea were ranked the first, fifth, and seventh largest contributors, respectively. Some parts of China, the Republic of Mongolia, the Russian Far East, and Southeast Asia have long been on serious alert due to accelerated deforestation. With their rapid population growth and economic development, the core countries of Northeast Asia are responsible both directly and indirectly for numerous environmental problems. Urgent individual and collective action is required from the region’s governments. Against the backdrop of debate on how to understand Northeast Asia as a "region," Park focuses on the major regional economies of China, Japan, and South Korea, along with Russia, North Korea, and the Republic of Mongolia, due to both their geopolitical proximity and their significance to the region. The author attempts to answer the questions: "How far has regional environmental cooperation progressed in Northeast Asia?"; and "Why are Northeast Asian countries reluctant to cooperate further on urgent transboundary and regional environmental issues?"

The International Relations of Northeast Asia

The International Relations of Northeast Asia
Author: Samuel S. Kim
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Total Pages: 385
Release: 2003-10-07
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1461644526

Is Northeast Asia primed for peace or ripe for great-power rivalry? In this turbulent region, all the world-order challenges of arms control and disarmament, global North-South tensions, human rights and humanitarian intervention, environmental protection and eco-development, and democratization and humane governance are concentrated. More than any other part of the world, the divided Korean peninsula is the strategic crossroad where the four major regional/global powers—the United States, Russia, China, and Japan—uneasily interact. This authoritative work explores the complex and evolving interplay of national, regional, and global forces influencing Northeast Asia's security, economy, and identity. Written by a team of leading scholars, the book presents a variety of theoretical perspectives and case studies to offer a comprehensive analysis of the pressures that shape the policy choices of China, Russia, Japan, the United States, North and South Korea, and Taiwan. The authors' historically and culturally informed narratives help track and explain the changes and continuities of relationships within the region and with the United States and Russia. Concise and current, this book will be essential reading for all those concerned with the role of a changing Northeast Asia in world politics.

China’s Strategic Environment and External Relations in the Transition Period

China’s Strategic Environment and External Relations in the Transition Period
Author: Jung-Ho Bae and Jin-Ha Kim
Publisher: 길잡이미디어
Total Pages: 412
Release: 2014-12-31
Genre: China
ISBN: 898479788X

In the 21st century, with China’s rise and the United States(U.S.)’ relative decline, the U.S.-China relationship together with strategic environment in Northeast Asia is changing. China is expanding its influence from Northeast Asia to Southeast Asia and Central Asia. As a result, China is forming a new type of ‘check and balance,’ and ‘cooperation and conflict’ with the U.S. in Southeast Asia and Russia in Central Asia. Such changes in China’s foreign relations policy and strategy as well as the strategic environment in Northeast Asia will have a higher possibility of influencing the unification on the Korean Peninsula. Therefore, it is necessary to precisely analyze the international situation surrounding the Korean Peninsula and to examine China’s foreign relations with countries in Northeast Asia, Central Asia and Southeast Asia. This research provides the analysis of China’s external relations policy in these three regions to understand the international circumstances surrounding the Korean Peninsula. The research aims to form the basis for the future unification diplomatic strategy. The first part of this book explains China’s major diplomatic relationships towards four East Asian countries: Japan, Russia, North Korea, and Taiwan. This chapter particularly provides a keen analysis of developments of each relationship and discusses how China initiates its diplomatic strategy and embodies its four major diplomatic relationships. Next part analyzes China’s aggressive foreign policy in Central Asia. This part suggests that China’s active policies towards Central Asian countries during the past decade is due to the increased importance of the region to China for the following aspects: national security, geopolitical location, energy and market. Considering the aforementioned factors, China’s enhanced influence in the region and intensified relations with the neighboring countries are mainly examined. The last part explores Southeast Asia’s foreign policy in the context of the rise of the G2 rivalry, focusing on Cambodia, Vietnam, and Myanmar. This part emphasizes the importance of Southeast Asia for the U.S. and China from a geopolitical perspective. Then, it goes on how each nation formed and developed its relationship with the U.S. and China, what each country’s national interest is, how they influence their foreign polices toward the two big giants, and how each country shape their policies in response to the conflictual and suspicious relationship between Washington and Beijing. In sum, this study provides an in-depth analysis of China’s overall diplomatic strategy. It is particularly significant for the policy-makers in South Korea and other countries to understand China’s external relations in the transitional situation on the East Asian regional level as well as on the global level. Keywords: Changes in East Asia’s Strategic Environment, Strategy of Unification Diplomacy, China and Southeast Asia Relations, China and Central Asia Relations. Introduction Part 1. Northeast Asia and China’s External Relations Ⅰ. Xi Jinping Administration’s Policy towards Japan Ⅱ. China-Russia Relations Ⅲ. North Korea-China Relations at a Transition Ⅳ. China-Taiwan Relations Part 2. Central Asia and China’s External Relations Ⅴ. China’s Policy towards Central Asia under the Xi Jinping Leadership Ⅵ. Central Asian States’ Responses to China’s Expansion of Power Part 3. Southeast Asia and China’s External Relations Ⅶ. Cambodia’s Relations with China and the U.S.: Norms, Interests, and a Balancing Act Ⅷ. Conflict Management and Peace Making in Myanmar: Effort and Its Effects Ⅸ. Myanmar’s Reforms and Opening the New Chapter with ASEAN Ⅹ. Learning from the Past: Vietnamese Foreign Policy in a Changing World