This paper answers the question how South Korea’s possession of “middle power” status should be evaluated. The paper answers this question and shows how South Korea can be considered as emerging Middle Power.
Middle Power Countries should be middle position in the terms of military capability, Population, economy. Geographical Location and quality of Diplomacy in order to maintain global world and they offer solution in international problems. South Korean is the first non G7 and non western country who led the G20 leader’s summit in 2010. In the survey of 2018 showed that South Korea has 12th largest GDP among 205 countries. South Korea’s military power also holds top 10 ranked in the world. The world’s ninth-largest trading country with more than 60 percent of its domestic economy dependent on trade ranking it sixth in the world. Though some researchers are believe that its state Affairs has not matched its middle power status.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Research Question and Methodology
3. Literature Review
4. Analysis
4.1 Define Middle Power
4.2 South Korea Middle Power Activism
4.3 South Korea :Emerging Middle Power
Research Objectives and Themes
This paper aims to evaluate the status of South Korea as a middle power by analyzing its foreign policy, economic influence, and diplomatic engagement within the international system, specifically addressing whether it should be classified as an emerging middle power.
- Evolution of South Korea from economic poverty to a global high-income nation.
- Evaluation of middle power criteria including military capacity, diplomacy, and economy.
- South Korea's active role in multilateral diplomacy and the G20.
- Regional engagement through ASEAN and the South Korea-China-Japan trilateral cooperation.
- The distinction between traditional and emerging middle power classifications.
Excerpt from the Book
Define Middle Power
Middle powers are shaped by their foreign policy behavior explained by Cooper, Higgott and Nossal. According to them, there are some characteristics and combination of those characteristics ensure countries middle power capacity .There are considerations of state capacity position in the World order, the normative composition of the middle-power state–societal complex, domestic class interests. And influence of foreign policy-makers. But middle powers do not challenge or threaten the global status que.
Cooper distinguished four approaches to define the middle power.
1. Countries should be middle position in the terms of military capability, Population, economy.
2. Geographical Location
3. They have a quality of Diplomacy and when they take responsibility in order to maintain global world, they should not be selfish and trustworthy in international arena.
4. They posses as a middle powermanship, which means they offer solution in international problems. Ping definition of a middle power in parallel to Cooper’s definitions.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: This chapter introduces South Korea's growing prominence in global diplomacy and sets the stage for the core research inquiry regarding its middle power status.
Research Question and Methodology: This section defines the primary research question and outlines the qualitative, descriptive, and analytical methodology based on secondary sources.
Literature Review: This section examines existing scholarly perspectives on South Korea's capabilities, limitations, and its role as a bridge builder in the international system.
Analysis: This chapter provides a theoretical framework for middle powers and evaluates South Korea's activism across economic, military, and diplomatic dimensions to determine its classification as an emerging middle power.
Keywords
South Korea, Middle Power, Emerging Middle Power, International Relations, Foreign Policy, Diplomacy, G20, ASEAN, Multilateralism, Military Capability, Global Economy, Conflict Resolution, Trilateral Cooperation, Regional Security, State Affairs
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this paper?
The paper examines South Korea's international standing to determine if the country can be accurately classified as a "middle power" in the context of contemporary global politics.
What are the primary themes discussed?
The core themes include South Korea's economic development, its military stature, its diplomatic activities in regional and global forums, and its specific role in mediating conflicts and building bridges between nations.
What is the primary research question?
The main question is: How should South Korea’s possession of “middle power” status be evaluated?
Which methodology is employed in this research?
The study utilizes a descriptive and analytical design, relying on qualitative data acquired from secondary sources such as books, journals, newspapers, and previous research papers.
What does the main analytical part cover?
The analysis covers the theoretical definition of middle powers, evaluates South Korea's activism in economic and military sectors, examines its role in conflict resolution, and assesses its engagement with ASEAN and the trilateral relations with China and Japan.
Which keywords best describe this study?
Key terms include South Korea, middle power, emerging middle power, foreign policy, multilateralism, and international diplomacy.
How does the author define a "middle power"?
The author references Cooper, Higgott, and Nossal, highlighting characteristics such as military capability, population size, economic position, quality of diplomacy, and the ability to offer solutions to international problems without threatening the global status quo.
Why is South Korea considered an "emerging" rather than "traditional" middle power?
The paper suggests that while South Korea exhibits many middle power traits, it is a "late comer" in certain activities and still faces limitations that distinguish it from the established traditional middle powers, justifying the "emerging" classification.
- Citar trabajo
- Faria Nusrat (Autor), 2019, South Korea as a Middle Power. Myth or Reality?, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/937783
