[Citizen College Season 3] Paradigm of Solidarity and Cooperation in Northeast Asia

On November 29, 2019, the 10th lecture of the Citizen College Season 3 “Citizens and the World: Peace on the Korean Peninsula and International Politics” was given at Korea University’s Political Science & Economics Bldg. 101. The 10th lecture was given by Professor Mo Jun-young of Dankook University’s Department of Political Science.

Titled “The Paradigm of Solidarity and Cooperation in Northeast Asia,” it was a time to explore the theory of solidarity and cooperation among countries and the reality of European integration, and to discuss whether solidarity and cooperation can be seen in Northeast Asia.

A region is an integrated system of two or more geographically adjoining and interacting countries with common racial, linguistic, cultural, social, and historical ties. And this sense of unity can be increased by the infiltration system of external powers. Northeast Asia, which consists of China, Japan and Korea, can be introduced, including the United States and Russia. The theories that describe solidarity and cooperation between countries include functionalism, neo-functionalism, trade theory and neo-liberalistic institutionalism. Functionalism believes that cooperation and peace in the political arena can be derived if cooperation between countries in non-political areas is learned. Neo-functionalism emphasizes the political will of nations, that cooperation can spread to other areas after first reaching agreement in the political arena. Tradeist theory believes that increasing contact between countries can assimilate into a larger community through social and psychological processes. And neo-liberalistic institutionalism is the argument that the international system promotes cooperation between countries. These theories are easy to explain the solidarity and integration of European countries. The European Community (EC) was formed based on the European Coal Steel Community (ECSC), the European Economic Community (EEC), and the European Nuclear Community (EURATOM). France, Italy, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and many other European countries are part of it, and as the European Community expands, the European Union is now established.

In Northeast Asia, solidarity and cooperation have been also attempted . The attempt continued, but compared to Europe, the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the Asia-Pacific Security Cooperation (CSCAP), and the Northeast Asia Cooperation Dialogue are limited. With solidarity and cooperation growing worldwide, Northeast Asia is still largely absent from visible cooperation. The expression that reveals this well is ‘Asia Paradox.’ This refers to the growing conflict between Korea, China and Japan in the political and security sectors despite their growing economic dependence. There is no leading force for solidarity and cooperation among Northeast Asian countries, and there are political, economic and cultural traumas that have not been cured by the evils of the Greater East Asian Public Authority. Also there are Japanese military sexual slavery issue, between Russia and Japan, China and Japan, Korea and Japan territorial issues,  difference in perception of history between countries, including textbooks.  And with the rise of nationalism in the region, cooperation between countries is becoming difficult. That’s why the speaker said, ‘Northeast Asian countries should have a leader who can lead to cross-border solidarity.