Post on 05-Jan-2016
transcript
Rise of Nationalism in Rise of Nationalism in Contemporary AsiaContemporary Asia
GUI YongtaoGUI Yongtao
July 29, 2013July 29, 2013Waseda UniversityWaseda University
August 2011, Hanoi, Chinese embassy
May 2012, Manila, Chinese embassy
August 2012, Korean President on Dokdo (Takeshima)
September 2012, Tokyo, Japanese right-wing groups
September 2012, Beijing, Japanese embassy
Rise of nationalism in Asia
China Japan South Korea Vietnam Philippines
Interdependence vs. mutual suspicion
Territorial nationalism? Two forms of territorial nationalism
– Love of homeland: national liberation– Geopolitical thought: competition for
sphere of influence (sea power, land power), lebensraum: war among great powers
Contemporary Asia– Competing for uninhabited or unknown
islands, rocks, banks, reefs– Homeland nostalgia?– Bases for power competition?
Resource nationalism?
Offshore oil and gas fishing
South Korea and Japan competing for resources?
Ordinary Vietnamese engaging in oil exploration?
Historical nationalism? Aggression and colonialism in history Historical justice and reconciliation not
realized Territory plus history
– South Korea, China: island disputes linked to history
China-Philippines?– no history issue, current relations amicable
Is the U.S. manipulating behind the scenes?
U.S. strategy of rebalancing toward Asia– China seen as geopolitical competitor– Problems not between Asian countries, but
between the U.S. and China Divergence in U.S. policy
– China-Japan dispute: non-involvement– South Korea-Japan dispute: pacifying
Balance diplomacy in Asia– Benefit and cost of introducing U.S.
influence
National dignity and national interests
Philippines, Vietnam– Equality for smaller countries
South Korea, Japan– Competition for regional influence and status
China– Respect by regional countries and no
interference by the U.S.
Symbolic meaning of individual issues– Prefer national dignity over national interests
International background
The rise of China– Asymmetrical distribution of power– Asymmetrical interdependence
Domestic background Elite nationalism
– Japan: Shintaro Ishihara– Philippines: Akbayan Citizens’ Action
Party and the president– South Korea: the president– China: growing confidence among elites
Popular nationalism– Vietnam: the youth, retired officials and
armymen, scholars, NGOs– China: the discontented mass– South Korea: the history issue
Interaction between the government and the public
Weak government, strong public participation– Surge of nationalism (South Korea)
Weak government, weak public participation– Nationalism used for short-term political
purposes (Japan, Philippines) Strong government, strong public
participation– Tension between the public and the
government (China, Vietnam)
The spiritual aspect of international relations
Nationalism is natural emotion Nationalism is irrational and harms foreign
relations
Nationalism in contemporary Asia
Sources of nationalism – Asymmetry in international order– Asymmetry in domestic society
Way forward– Mutual benefit plus mutual respect
Thank you!