South Korea and Sino-Japanese rivalry: a middle power's options within the East Asian core triangle

Transposition in Japanese state identities: overseas troop dispatches and the emergence of a humanitarian power?

“…But such a conclusion appears premature to us, given the existence of the unrevised peace constitution, the asymmetrical alliance with the USA, the continuing efficacy of anti-militarist norms and, especially, the exclusive use of non-combat troops for overseas military projection. Considering the constraints on the full exercise of military power, a number of scholars instead have placed Japan alongside countries such as Canada, suggesting Japan's identity as 'a middle power', which tends to eschew military options and adheres to multilateralism, human security and the norms of nuclear non-proliferation (Cooper, Higgott, and Nossal 1993;Cox 1989;Rozman 2007;Soeya 2005). With Japan's overseas dispatches increasing but still falling short of sending combat troops, however, we offer instead 38 Glenn D. Hook and Key-young Son 'international humanitarian power' as a more appropriate portrayal of Japan's contemporary security identity and for the immediate future.…”

South Korea's State-led Soft Power Strategies: Limits on Inter-Korean Relations

“…President Kim Daejung's tied innovations in technology to the new cultural industry (Vision 21) and to continued export-orientated development. Rozman (2007) argues that one official soft power limit for Seoul is South Korea's cultural 'self destructive historic perspective' in its relations with China and Japan. Due to ongoing territorial and maritime issues such as island ownership and the recent Goguryo affair (although this may have been manufactured by a South Korean political elite assuaging a nationalistic and potentially anti-Chinese Korean public to allow the political elite more breathing space in recognizing the importance of maintaining trade and strategic ties with Beijing), relations with Beijing after the Cheonan and Yeonpyeong incidents of 2010 have undermined Seoul's support with China.…”

Bridging Troubled Worlds? An Analysis of the Ethical Case for South Korean Aid

“…Also, as many Korean officials noted, in pursuit of its comparative advantage in ever‐increasing donor competition, KSP is considered as the best option for Korea to differentiate its aid strategy (Interviews with MOSF, , see also Rozman, ). This is notable in how the Korea–Africa forums have been set up and managed .…”