NORTH-EAST ASIA IN THE GLOBAL AND REGIONAL CONTEXT: SECURITY OPTIONS FOR THE NEXT CENTURY

Chung-Si Ahn, Professor, Seoul National University, Republic of Korea

1. The World at the Close of the 20th Century

The world today is at a turning point.1 The changes that we are undergoing are global in scope, and in content revolutionary, fundamental and structural. North-East Asia is also in a period of a great political and economic transformation. Amidst these changes, peoples and societies of the region are facing new sources of hope, challenges and uncertainties. The nature of change in the world and Asia can be summed up as optimism and uncertainty.

Optimistic Trends

A half-century's Cold War is over. Reduced war potential among major powers has increased the prospect for global peace and regional stability. Trade and economic issues are gaining increasing importance in international relations. The communication and information revolutions now under way are turning the world into a truly "global village". In addition, an era of competitive coexistence between capitalism and socialism as the two alternative social systems has ended with victory for the market system. This (marketization) will facilitate a single, comprehensive, global economic system (that is, the Uruguay Round and World Trade Organization system) to emerge. These positive changes together with other negative global problems, such as deteriorating environments, pollution, and draining natural resources and so forth, foster and at times force international cooperation.

The state system is also under pressure for more democracy. As nations achieve higher economic development, societies become increasingly pluralistic and complex. Growing business sectors tend to proliferate, civic organizations as well. The net effect of economic development, urbanization, social pluralism, structural complexity and the proliferation of civic sectors will result in the growth of the middle class, and a simultaneous maturing of civil society. This will in turn push the states and their leaders to abandon authoritarian control and adopt measures to conform to the rules and principles of democratic governance. Thus, the world appears to be moving towards an era of global cooperation and integration. As we enter the 21st century, a sense of optimism prevails in Asia and elsewhere. Are the nations of North-East Asia ready to help this trend take firm root?

Date: 2015-01-11; view: 842