Korea Briefing 2000-2001: First Steps Toward Reconciliation and Reunification

This book makes the case that several East Central European countries have emerged as fully consolidated democracies. As such, they may be integrated into the mainstream of political science research, and not consigned forever to a transitional category encompassing countries that are now fully democracies as well as some that are not democratic at all. The author outlines the steps of another transition -- from post-communist studies to political science research. He demonstrates, for example, how institutionalist, or rational choice, theories can be applied to the analysis of political processes in the successfully democratized countries, and proposes a new research agenda for political scientists studying the region. The results of this work can enrich political science as well as our understanding of both democracy and the polities of contemporary Eastern Europe.

This new edition of Korea Briefing provides a timely analysis of the evolving relationship between South and North Korea. In June 2000, after years of ignoring the South Korean government, the North Korean leader Kim Jong II finally agreed to a summit meeting with South Korea's President Kim Dae Jung. As a sign of reconciliation, the summit meeting has prompted Korea and its neighbors to rethink the assumptions of the Cold War era. With contributions by a multi-national panel of Koreanexperts, the book discusses a wide range of topics, including South Korean politics and economy; Korea's relations with its neighbors and with the United States; recent changes in North Korea; the fate of North Korean defectors; and lessons in German reunification for the two Koreas. The discussions are supplemented by a glossary, a chronology of events occurring from June 1999 to June 2001, and a bibliography.

Preface Map Introduction: Toward the Elusive Goal of Reconciliation and Reunification, Kongdon Oh and Ralph C. Hassig 1. The End of History, the Rise of Ideology, and the Pursuit of Inter-Korean Reconciliation, Scott Snyder 2. The Economic Outlook for Reconciliation and Reunification, Doowon Lee 3. The New North Korea, Ralph C. Hassig and Kongdan Oh 4. China, Japan, and Russia in Inter-Korean Relations, Samuel S. Kim 5. U.S. Policy Toward the Inter-Korean Dialogue, Edward A. Olsen 6. The Mellowing of North Korean Power: Lessons of Reconciliation and Unification for Korea from Germany, Dieter Dietke 7. North Korean Defectors: A Window into a Reunified Korea, Kelly Koh and Glenn Baek Suggestions for Further Readings and Web Sites About the Contributors Index