 Middle Power Diplomacy Initiative Working Paper No. 2
Explores Network Theory and
South Korea's Middle Power Diplomatic Strategies |
 Sangbae Kim argues that the existing studies of middle power are inadequate in providing guidelines for South Korea's new role because they focus on individual countries' attributes or capabilities to explain the general responsibilities of middle powers in world politics. Adopting "structural holes" and actor-network theory, Kim attempts to develop a theoretical framework to understand South Korea's diplomatic strategies as a middle power. The author suggests that South Korea can grasp opportunities to exploit structural holes in Northeast Asia, to manage asymmetric relationships among great powers in the region, and to bring together other actors for common interests. In acting as a broker - more than a mere connector - South Korea can become a complementary programmer that provides useful patches to trouble spots in the great power system. In this way, South Korea can contribute to the construction of regional architecture.
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