Foreign Relations

In the Trump era, there has been a surge of interest in the upsurge of sharp power as a disruptive force in international relations and the precipitous decline in the…

An intensifying backlash against Xi Jinping’s makeover of China and Donald Trump’s makeover of the United States has muddied thinking about the national identity struggle recently building between the world’s…

If we understand geopolitics as “representations of space” as well as “spatial practices,” then the Indo-Pacific region can be understood as a newly emerging geopolitical hotspot in which major powers…

When supporters of China’s President Xi Jinping point to his many accomplishments they highlight his impressive anti-corruption drive, the end of the one-child family policy, the intensive monitoring of social…

One of Korea's strongest capabilities is its soft power, accrued through its exports of Korean popular culture. Whether it’s Squid Game or BTS, Parasite or Black Pink, the Korea Wave has reached every shore and boosted Korea's profile. But while this does provide some opportunities, experts say there are limitations to what objectives the Korean…

What happened On January 15, 2022, President Moon Jae-in arrived in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to begin his three-nation trip to the Middle East. The spokesperson for the South Korean presidential office emphasized room to grow the relationship with the region through green energy and economic cooperation. The visit follows the South Korean trade…

What Happened: Despite controversies around the legacy of Japan’s colonial exploitation, recent polling found that South Koreans have a less favorable view towards China than they do toward Japan. President Moon did not join the diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics nor did he stop Chinese tour groups coming to South Korea during the…

Korea is expected to apply later this year for membership in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a trade agreement between eleven states in the Indo-Pacific. One signatory of the agreement is Japan, raising fears that bilateral tensions may encourage Tokyo to oppose Seoul's bid. But noting their shared membership in another…