在日韓雙邊爭端中檢視韓國之中型權力形象

Abstract

本文旨於透過分析日韓爭端檢視韓國之中型權力形象。在回顧過往對於支持與反對韓國作為一個中型國家的文獻後，本文藉由自1990年代至朴槿惠主政時期之三個個案分析日韓爭端中韓國政府的國家管理政策。最後，本文歸結由於韓國在與日本的爭端中並沒有堅持正統的中間勢力行為，中型權力理論並無法充分描述南韓獨特的外交政策取向。然而，隨著時間的推移和對日本政策的重新評估，南韓政府有可能採取更為強勁的中型權力聯盟。

This thesis seeks to test South Korea’s image as a middle power by examining the country’s approach to bilateral disputes with Japan. After a review of literature supportive and critical of Korea’s status as a middle power nation, it then focuses on evaluating the country’s management of ROK-Japan bilateral disputes using three different case studies span from the early 1990s to the Park Geun-hye administration. Finally, this thesis concludes by suggesting that since Korea does not consistently adhere to orthodox middle power behavior in its disputes with Japan, the middle power theory does not adequately describe South Korea’s unique foreign policy orientation. However, with time and with a sincere reevaluation of its Japan policies, South Korea has the potential to adopt a more robust middle power alignment.