Constructing Theories of East Asian International Relations in Korea: Challenges and Tasks

• Published in: Korea observer Vol. 39; no. 2; pp. 307 - 328
• Main Author: Choi, Ajin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Seoul Institute of Korean Studies 01.07.2008; 한국학술연구원
• Subjects: Academic discipline; Chinese languages; Cold War; Cultural specificity; Dependency theory; East Asia; Foreign policy; Indigenous knowledge; Institutionalism; International organizations; International Relations; International relations theory; Korean language; Political economy; Political Science Theories; Political thought; Politics; Regional analysis; Research trends; Salience; Sociocultural Factors; South Korea; Theory; 정치외교학; East Asia; United States > US; Asia; China; Japan
• ISSN: 0023-3919; 2586-3053

According to them, the rise of China would render the future of East Asia uncertain by triggering severe competition and arms race among neighboring countries, and the U.S. should contain China in order to retain its dominant position in Asia. [...]although Korean IR scholars tend to introduce and publish a part of their dissertations when they return to Korea after receiving their Ph.D.s, most of them do not develop their dissertations further in terms of either subject or methodology (Ibid., 2007). According to him, structural variables such as the change in the distribution of power are important; however, this factor alone has limited value in explaining the cases cited above. [...]he modifies the theory by adding new variables, namely, issue salience and perception, as intervening variables in his model and attempts to further develop the theory in order to explain Chinese interventions. [...]Kenneth Waltz developed the neorealist ER theory in his book Theory of International Politics (1979). Since the publication of this book, many IR scholars have competitively derived new hypotheses from it and have tested them in many different ways, either supporting or challenging Waltz's theory.