Korea’s Middle Power Diplomacy: Between Power and Network (The Political Economy of the Asia Pacific)

This volume discusses Korea’s role as a middle power in the midst of the 21 st century global power shift. Focusing on Korea’s middle power diplomacy from the perspective of coalition building, the book discusses structural factors that shape middle power strategy and diplomacy. Written by leading Korean researchers, the chapters use diverse methodologies to offer a range of perspectives on Korea’s place in the developing global order. Topics discussed include South Korea’s approach to technology policy in the midst of US-China cyber competition, the East Asian ‘Thucydides Trap’, MITKA and middle power diplomacy, Korea’s role in the South China Sea dispute, and South Korean cyber security. Providing a unique treatment of middle power opportunities and motivations in the East Asia region, this volume will be of interest to students and scholars of international relations, Asian politics, diplomacy, security studies, and global governance. Preface 6 Contents 8 Chapter 1: Introduction 9 The Crisis of International Order and Middle Power Diplomacy: Hyperglobalization, the U.S.-China Strategic Competition, and COVID-19 10 The Promises and Challenges of South Korea’s Middle Power Diplomacy 11 The Organization of the Book 12 References 18 Chapter 2: Thucydides on Thucydides Trap: A Reading with the Emphasis of Middle Powers and Its Application in the East Asian Context 19 Introduction 20 Corinth: A Peace-Breaking Middle Power 22 Melos: An “Irrational” Middle Power 26 Syracuse: A Middle Power Pursuing a Regional Hegemon 30 Application to the East Asian Context 32 References 34 Chapter 3: Roles of Middle Power in East Asia: The Perspective of Network Theories of World Politics 36 Introduction 37 Middle Power in a Network Perspective 39 Rethinking Structure: From Distribution to Configuration 39 What Matters Is Position 41 Three Notions from Network Theories 43 Structural Holes: Exploring the Configuration of Networks 43 Positional Power: Exploring Actor’s Role in Networks 45 Translation: Exploring Actor’s Networking Strategies 46 Roles of South Korea as a Middle Power 48 Framing and Positioning in the Network 48 Connecting and Disconnecting Ties 51 Collecting and Attracting Like-Minded Groups 53 Complementary Standard Setting 54 Conclusion 56 References 58 Chapter 4: Emerging Powers and a Middle Power: U.S.-China Competition and South Korea in Cyberspace 61 Introduction 62 Theoretical Understanding of Emerging Power Politics 64 Framework for Emerging Power Competition 65 Inter-network Politics: Interpreting Emerging Power Politics 67 U.S.-China Emerging Power Competition in Cyberspace 68 U.S.-China Technological Competition in Cyberspace 68 U.S.-China Standard Competition in Cyberspace 70 U.S.-China Charm Competition in Cyberspace 72 South Korea as a Middle Power in Cyberspace 73 South Korea as an Emerging Middle Power 73 Searching for Middle Power Strategies in Cyberspace? 75 Conclusion 79 References 80 Chapter 5: The Dilemma of South Korea as a Middle Power with Regards to the Conflicts Between the United States and China in the South China Sea 83 Introduction 84 U.S.-China Conflicts in South China Sea 85 China’s Maritime Power Construction and the Asian Rebalancing Strategy of the U.S. 85 Conflicts Between U.S.-China on International Norms and Rules 87 South Korea’s Position on the Conflicts Between the U.S. and China in the South China Sea 89 South Korea’s Principle Position and U.S. Demand 89 South Korea’s Position on the Award of Arbitral Tribunal 92 South Korea’s Dilemma on the Conflicts Between the U.S. and China in the South China Sea 93 South Korea’s Dilemma on Power Competition Between the U.S. and China 93 South Korea’s Dilemma in the South China Sea Dispute 95 Conclusion 97 References 99 Chapter 6: The Inter-network Politics of Cyber Security and Middle Power Diplomacy: A Korean Perspective 102 Introduction 103 Positional Approach to Middle Power Diplomacy 105 Complex Networks in Cyber Security 107 Global Governance in Cyber Security 109 Multistakeholderism vs. Inter-governmentalism 110 The U.S. and Europe vs. Russia and China 112 U.S.-China Competition in Cyber Security 113 U.S.-China Cyber Conflict 113 Internet Policies and Regulatory Institutions 114 Competing Securitization of Cyber Security 116 Middle Power Diplomacy in Cyber Security? 117 Brokerage Diplomacy in Cyber Security? 118 Collective Diplomacy in Cyber Security? 120 Complementary Diplomacy in Cyber Security? 122 Conclusion 124 References 126 Chapter 7: Power Shift, Power Diffusion, and Middle Power Diplomacy: MIKTA and Changes in Global Governance 129 Global Governance Under Pressure and the Emergence of Middle Power Diplomacy 130 Main Features of Middle Power Diplomacy in the Twenty-First Century 132 The Origin and Evolution of MIKTA 133 MIKTA’s Unique Strategy 135 Coping with Challenges 138 References 141 Chapter 8: Unpacking the Domestic Political Foundation of Middle Powers: Cases from South Korea and Turkey 144 Introduction 145 Debates on Middle Powers 145 Theoretical Framework: Capability-Democracy Nexus Model 147 Hypothesis 151 South Korea’s Democratic Development and Its Middle Power Diplomacy 151 Turkey: From Symbol of Middle Power to Reckless Rule Breaker 154 Conclusion 156 References 157