South Koreas Way Out of Chinas Shadow_How Seoul uses COVID-19 in its Foreign Policy to Improve its Position in the International System: How Seoul uses COVID-19 in its Foreign Policy to Improve its Position in the International System
Author
Hellberg-Stender, Bianca-Renée
Term
4. term
Publication year
2021
Pages
62
Abstract
Emerging in late 2019, COVID-19 quickly became the most far-reaching global health crisis of the 21st century, larger than SARS or MERS. With no clear international leader, governments tested different ways to contain the virus. This thesis examines how the South Korean government used the pandemic within its foreign policy to improve its position in the international system. It analyzes three official documents to see how Seoul communicated its response, which values and mitigation efforts it emphasized, and whether it aimed to distance itself from China or simply gain recognition on its own. Methodologically, it conducts an in-depth desk review of the three publications. The study draws on social constructivism (the idea that identities and norms shape state behavior) and soft power (the ability to attract and persuade), after defining public diplomacy (communicating with foreign publics), nation branding (promoting a national image), and niche diplomacy (focusing on areas of particular strength). The findings show that policymakers in Seoul combine traditional diplomacy (bilateral cooperation between two countries and multilateral engagement in international forums) with public diplomacy and nation branding to build soft power by highlighting openness, transparency, civic engagement, innovation, and democracy. The thesis argues that South Korea’s identity as a middle power helps explain its focus on multilateral cooperation and niche diplomacy. It also notes that the government avoided the US–China blame game. Although it did not directly compare Korea’s and China’s responses, the emphasis on democratic principles suggests an effort to step out of China’s shadow. Measuring soft power is difficult, so overall success is hard to prove, but the study concludes that South Korea’s soft power increased in the short term. Whether this leads to lasting influence requires future research.
COVID-19, som dukkede op i slutningen af 2019, blev hurtigt den mest vidtgående globale sundhedskrise i det 21. århundrede, større end SARS og MERS. Uden en klar international leder afprøvede regeringer forskellige måder at begrænse smitten. Dette speciale undersøger, hvordan den sydkoreanske regering brugte pandemien i sin udenrigspolitik for at styrke landets position internationalt. Det analyserer tre officielle dokumenter for at se, hvordan Seoul kommunikerede sin indsats, hvilke værdier og tiltag der blev fremhævet, og om målet var at distancere sig fra Kina eller opnå anerkendelse på egne præmisser. Metodisk gennemføres et dybdegående desk review af de tre publikationer. Specialet trækker på socialkonstruktivisme (ideen om, at identiteter og normer former staters adfærd) og soft power (evnen til at tiltrække og overbevise) efter at have defineret offentlig diplomati (kommunikation med udenlandske befolkninger), nation branding (opbygning af et nationalt image) og niche-diplomati (fokus på særlige styrkepositioner). Resultaterne viser, at beslutningstagere i Seoul kombinerer traditionel diplomati (bilateralt samarbejde mellem to lande og multilateralt samarbejde i internationale fora) med offentlig diplomati og nation branding for at opbygge soft power ved at fremhæve åbenhed, gennemsigtighed, civilt engagement, innovation og demokrati. Specialet argumenterer for, at Sydkoreas identitet som mellemstor magt forklarer fokus på multilateralt samarbejde og niche-diplomati. Det bemærkes også, at regeringen undgår den såkaldte skyldplacering mellem USA og Kina. Selvom der ikke sammenlignes direkte med Kinas indsats, antyder betoningen af demokratiske principper et forsøg på at træde ud af Kinas skygge. Det er svært at måle soft power og dermed effekten af offentlig diplomati og nation branding. Specialet konkluderer dog, at Sydkorea øgede sin soft power på kort sigt. Om dette giver varig indflydelse, må fremtidig forskning afklare.
[This apstract has been rewritten with the help of AI based on the project's original abstract]
Keywords