• Author : Doo-Jin Kim,  In hye Heo
• Publication : THE JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
• Publisher : The East Asian Association Of International Studies (Eaais)
• Volume : 25(2)
• Date : Abstract: The article aims to reconsider some of the epistemological discourses about “East Asia” that have been prevalent in the Korean academic world since 1990. The origins of the discourse seem to bring much contentious variation, coupled with interdisciplinary study without clarifying theoretical rigorousness. Compared to the modern West, modern East Asia historically has tended to reflect the attribute of transnational nationalism, while they have not recognize the “we-ness” with neighboring states. The development of East Asia discourse comes to capture four academic orientations raised so far in Korean intellectual milieu. The critical examination of Western ideas on ‘international society’ could pave the way for the imagination of the international society of East Asia. In view of the controversial dissonance in East Asia, the recurring narration (épistémè) of East Asian International Society as ‘imagined community’ (by Benedict Anderson) is likely to complement the ‘practice’ (praxis) of East Asia in the long-term.

• Author : Jae Ho Chung and Hun Joon Kim
• Publication : Australian Journal of International Affairs
• Publisher : Routledge
• Volume : Online first
• Date : June, 2022

Abstract : Relatively few systematic and categorical studies have been conducted on the variant responses by East Asian states to the rise of China, and even fewer dealt with reasons for such intra-regional variations. This study seeks to fill the void by examining the strategic responses by 15 East Asian states for the period of 2011–2016. This period merits close scrutiny because China became more explicitly assertive. The research proceeds in two phases. First, by way of reading into the expert assessments in academic journals, the strategic responses of the 15 states are categorised into balancing, hedging, or bandwagoning. Second, statistical analyses are conducted to see how the intra-regional variations are related to unit-level factors. Of the seven variables analyzed, three – geographical proximity, democracy, and identity – turn out to be crucial in determining the East Asian states’ strategic responses.

• Author : Dong-Hun Kim and Cha, Seoungwon
• Publication : Journal of Golobal Politics (JGP)
• Publisher : Institute of Global Politics
• Volume : 15(1)
• Date : June, 2022

Abstract: This paper analyzes the public perception of diversity. We study how the Korean public understands the intrinsic value of diversity, which lies in ending discrimination, and the instrumental value of diversity, which is its potential to bring practical benefits for all. The results show a generational gap; young adults perceive diversity discourse more negatively. They are against discrimination in large but do not support diversity policies that are in line with affirmative action. They are also unlikely to support parties that advocate such policies. Notwithstanding the promotion of diversity across different socio-political sectors and its benefits suggested by the academia, Korea’s meritocratic landscape is a barrier to its implementation. This study predicts that the foundations of public support for diversity could be increasingly undermined so long as the young adults, the prospective stakeholders, hold negative views. With the ongoing discourse around the Anti-Discrimination Legislation in Korea, these findings have important implications for future initiatives.

• Author : Taekyoon Kim and Shin-wha Lee
• Publication : Asian Journal of Peacebuilding
• Publisher : Institute for Peace and Unification Studies Seoul National University
• Volume : 10(1)
• Date : May, 2022

Abstract : This special issue discusses, in-depth, the embedded conundrum of South-South and triangular cooperation (SSTC) whose frontiers are shifted from collaboration to contention within the United Nations (UN) development system and beyond. This introductory article provides the conceptual framework—the contentioncollaboration spectrum—that guides all the contributors and serves as the collective starting point for this project. The moving frontiers of SSTC reflect the shifting historic relationships between the global South and North as well as Southern partner countries. The framework enables the six articles of this special issue to investigate the paradoxical structure of contrasting dynamics of SSTC, which has always been exposed to historical transformations at multi-levels of analysis: global governance, regional engagements, middle power perspectives, and the UN development system and beyond.

• Author : Taegyun Lim and Sung Eun Kim
• Publication : International Relations of the Asia-Pacific
• Publisher : Oxford Academic
• Volume : Online first
• Date : May, 2022

Abstract : China has expanded its economic footprint in Southeast Asian countries by providing a growing amount of development finance to the region. We examine the allocation of Chinese foreign aid toward Southeast Asian countries exploiting the exogenous variation of rotating leadership within Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN). As the ASEAN Chair possesses the agenda-setting power and represents the organization, China strategically allocates more development aid to the ASEAN Chair to augment its influence in the region. Our analysis of Chinese aid allocation between 2000 and 2017 finds that taking the leadership position at ASEAN appears to be significantly associated with an increase of official development aid flows from China, while other commercial flows are only weakly associated with the leadership position. Our findings underscore the importance of considering the regional context in examining foreign aid allocation and show that a donor can target a regional organization to exert its political influence in the region.

• Author : Hyun-Jin Cha
• Publication : The Journal of Asiatic Studies
• Publisher : The Korean Criminal Law Association
• Volume : 65(1)
• Date : March, 2022

Abstract: This paper aims to identify the characteristic of candlelight protest participants in 2016-17. This research argues that voter’s voting frequency and patterns of voting choices affect the probability of participating in the 2016-17 candlelight protests. First, the probability of participating in the candlelight protests increases as an individual’s voting frequency becomes higher. This is because protesting and voting are in a complementary relationship and the goals of the candlelight protests deal with the important political issue. Second, a voter type which is classified by an individual’s voting consistency and a supporting party’s political ideology affects the likelihood to participate in the candlelight protest. A voter’s supporting party affects whether or not the voter is motivated to participate in a candlelight protest, and the consistency of voting choices affects how intensive the voter’s motivation for the protest participation will be. Thus, core liberal voters are most likely to participate in the candlelight protest while core conservative voters are the least likely to protest. Swing voters are found in the middle, more likely to participate than core conservative voters would, and less likely to participate than core liberals would. The empirical results confirmed the patterns of voters’ voting choices affect candlelight protest participation in 2016-17. This research tries to connect electoral studies with contentious politics by suggesting voting choices in consecutive elections as the characteristics of the candlelight protestors. In addition, the results show that the candlelight protest participants still reflect the characteristics of partisanship.