Understanding Japan–South Korea Cooperation and Friction Through Neoclassical Realist Theory
| Published date | 01 June 2020 |
| Date | 01 June 2020 |
| DOI | 10.1177/0973598419888279 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
Article
1 Centre for International Politics, Organization and Disarmament, Jawaharlal Nehru
University, New Delhi, India.
Corresponding author:
Anna Kim, International Politics Division, Centre for International Politics, Organization
and Disarmament, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, 110067, India.
E-mail: onanna@gmail.com
Understanding
Japan–South Korea
Cooperation and
Friction Through
Neoclassical
Realist Theory
Anna Kim1
Abstract
The relationship between Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK)1 has
largely eluded theoretical explanations as to why these two allies of the
USA continue to share a volatile relationship. The friction between these
countries has largely been attributed to their colonial past. The historical
aspect is no doubt an indispensable factor contributing to a fractured
relationship. However, historical animosity in itself cannot explain the
causes behind intermittent friction and cooperation. Bilateral relations
between the two countries do not follow balance of threat theory
predictions either. Alliance theory states that states will ally against a
common threat. Despite this, Japan and the ROK have failed to coop-
erate even when regional threat level was high. Here, Victor Cha's quasi-
alliance theory potentially sheds light on the puzzle. It stresses on the
role of a third-party patron and its level of commitment to each of
its allies as a determining factor in cooperation or friction between
the regional players. The purpose of this article is to test the predic-
tions of this theory. The article tries to determine Japan and the ROK’s
1 Used interchangeably with ‘South Korea’.
Jadavpur Journal of
International Relations
24(1) 28–52, 2020
2019 Jadavpur University
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DOI: 10.1177/0973598419888279
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Kim 29
perception of US commitment during the Obama administration and
the Trump administration, respectively. The next task is to ascertain
whether Japan and ROK actions reflected the predictions of the theory.
The article concludes on theory implications in the recent climate of
bilateral volatility.
Keywords
Japan–South Korea relations, USA–Japan relations, USA–South Korea
relations, East Asia security, neoclassical realist theory, realist theory
Introduction
It remains a puzzle for most international relations scholars as to why
historical issues keep resuscitating to cripple bilateral relations. Here,
neoclassical realist analysis can potentially shed light on this puzzle by
striving to explain foreign policy choices. Victor Cha adapts the
underlying assumptions of the alliance theory literature to present a
quasi-alliance theory (Cha 1999, 2000). Quasi-alliance theory adds to
the existing alliance theory literature by emphasizing on abandonment/
entrapment fears of the concerned regional players in relation to their
third-party patron. There are two underlying hypotheses to this theory
(Cha 2000: 267–268).
If relations between states X and Y reflect an asymmetrical structure of
abandonment and entrapment concerns bilaterally or with respect to a third-
party Z, then there will be friction between X and Y.
If relations between states X and Y reflect a symmetrical structure of
abandonment concerns bilaterally, or with respect to a third-party Z, then
cooperation should ensue.
There are two elements to these hypotheses. The first part looks at
relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) (X and Y),
which Cha calls ‘the inner core’ (Ibid., 268). This is the bilateral aspect
of the relationship. In the relationship between the two, Japan holds fear
of entrapment, that is, being dragged into a war on the Korean peninsula.
South Korea holds abandonment fears by Japan in that it fears Japan will
not support it in the face of threats from North Korea.
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