Pan-Korean Nationalismm, Anti-Great Power-ism, Anti-Americanism

When the author uses the term “pan-Korean nationalism” he is referring to a feeling that had developed at the end of the Cold War that erupted in highly altered forms of nationalism throughout East Asia. This developed because such forms of nationalism had previously been repressed in years during and pre-Cold War. These types of feelings have altered countries, such as South Korea’s, relationship with the United States and other foreign nations outside of East Asia. When the author uses the term “Anti-Great Power-ism” he is referring to the desire that Koreans hold to escape exploitation and victimization that South Koreans have experienced by countries such as the United States. These feelings began after World War II, and are present in recent times. Both terms are closely associated with Koreans changing their beliefs on identity and nationalism within their country. These notions resulted in a significant change in political interest and power within South Korea. The generation gap between the old and the young cause the two groups to feel differently about both notions. The young think of the Cold War in a different context, that of which the situation on the Korean Peninsula is as a result of the post-Cold War situation. The main conflict is the young view North Korea without feelings of dislike in the same manner that the old do, as a result of the differentiating views the two hold on the outcome of the Korean War. The struggle over history that the author could be referring to is not so much a struggle over historical events, but how the two conflicting groups view such events. These two groups, the old and the young, see their pasts in different contexts. Such differences cause the struggle as they do not hold the same viewpoints on the outcome or causes of external conflicts, for instance the Cold War, or even internal conflicts, such as the Korean War.
I think one of the most memorable events of our time that shape the way we view the future is the events of September 11th. As a result of that day, we entered a war, which at the current time, Americans can’t seem to remember the reason why we did so. Though, when it occurred, there was basically an outcry for war that was heard all across the country. Now, there is a lot of opposition to the war, and the American people are looking to end the conflict. The issue of the war seems to be the basis of the presidential debates, and of the presidential election of 2008. This is similar to that of the Korean problem, though there aren’t two separate groups, there are two opposite feelings among one group, Americans as a whole, that changed within a matter of a few years.
The cleansing that is referred to is the South Korean national assembly looking at historical issues and debating what actions to take as a result. However, the issues that are being examined are issues relating to Japan, rather than relating to the United States. South Korea is trying to enflame the nationalism felt by the people even more by defending its actions in the past and demeaning those taken by other countries. The United States currently has troops in the area as a result of the nuclear weapons that South and North Korea are supposedly creating. The United States feels threatened by these countries making such weapons and feels the need to make sure that their production is ceased and all nuclear weapons in existence confiscated and/or destroyed. The American betrayals that the Koreans refer to are mostly that of the United States actions with other East Asian countries. If the United States visits another East Asian country, Koreans are usually offended. This also refers to, more recently, the actions that the Bush administration has taken towards Korea. When Clinton was in office, he was more accepting towards Koreans with his foreign policy, however Bush has halted the progress that Clinton had made for a more anti-Korean attitude he has taken on since assuming the presidency. The feelings of “anti-great power-ism” the Koreans hold, for the most part are feelings of Anti-Americanism. Koreans, more recently have begun to dislike the United States mostly as a result of the Bush Administrations stance on the country. Though, this can also be related to the countries relationship with Japan as well. For the most part, Koreans hold a deep dislike and distrust for the country, however the feeling is not mutual. Koreans, as a result of past actions taken by Japan holds deep distaste felt by a majority of those in the country, though when looking at polls, the same feelings do not hold true for Japan-Korean relations. These feelings of dislike by Koreans of Japan is as a result of the Todko/Takeshima conflict. The article does not talk a lot about Koreans relationship with China but it does cite it as a major player in the Korean War. The US is said to be important in the reunification of North and South Korea because as a result of past US action, the country was colonized and split into two.
One way in which the country is reassessing its history is as a result of new information discovered since the conflict. The Korean War is not all that it had once seemed to be, rather than one conflict, it may have been two. The war, which had once been seen to be fought against communism, is now seen as something very different from recent interpretations. The Anti-American sentiment now is focused on the actions that the United States took during the Korean War, as it is been reassessed. The anti-us sentiment is now felt by almost all people within the country. The core of the US-ROK relationship is that the US sees North Korea as a threat. Though, this threat no longer seems credible to the younger generations in South Korea, which may affect the relations between the US and Korea very greatly. Relations between North and South Korea have changed in recent years following the Cold War. Though the relations are perfect, South Korea has more recently “warmed up” to North Korea, seemingly as a result of mutual feelings of Anti-Americanism felt by both countries.