In the field of
political science, the issue of national identity has been marginalized due
to its abstract, impractical and amorphous nature that makes it difficult for
one to empirically back his or her analyses of international relations.
For mainstream theorists -- be they liberalists or realists -- material
power, trade volume, investment amounts and other tangible, thus, measurable,
data are critical sources of research, while “soft” concepts like identity
have largely been overlooked.
This explains the lack of academic research into the national identities of
South Korea and Japan and how they influence the bilateral relationship now,
hindering the Northeast Asian neighbors from moving past a particular time in
their shared history -- Japan’s 1910-45 colonial rule of Korea.
Written by two leading U.S. experts on East Asian politics -- Brad Glosserman
and Scott A. Snyder -- “The Japan-South Korea Identity Clash” delves into the
role of the identities in shaping public opinion and, in turn, affecting
their foreign policy decisions.
“State behavior depends on history and culture, as well as capabilities. Raw
power is important, but so, too, are beliefs, values and norms,” reads the
180-page book recently published by the Columbia University Press.
“A society’s conception of itself shapes what it thinks is important.
Identity shapes interests and interests determine foreign policy.”
Indeed, the fraught relationship between Korea and Japan cannot be well
explained without fully grasping their identities based on their historical
experiences, which have been interpreted differently to the detriment of
bilateral cooperation.
Without analyzing the variables that come into play to forge the identities,
it is difficult to explain why the two nations sharing common values --
democracy, market economy and so on -- cannot cooperate on an array of
practical issues including the shared threat from a nuclear-ambitious North
Korea.
In light of this, this book offers crucial insights into the identity
variables that have changed amid the shifts in domestic and external
circumstances such as Korea’s democratization and newfound national pride,
and the end of the Cold War that brought the core allies of the U.S. together
under America’s strategic leadership.
The book, in particular, employs public opinion polls, conducted in both
nations, as a central analysis tool to give a better understanding of how the
two neighbors view themselves, each other and the U.S. -- views that, after
all, represent their identities and affect their policy choices.
The authors have conducted a review of more than a decade of public opinion
surveys on foreign affairs issues and carried out their own survey of elite
opinions to study the contours of the national debate about foreign policy
orientations.
Based on their analysis of the bilateral relations, the authors propose a
“Grand Bargain,” urging Seoul, Washington and Tokyo to “go big and be bold”
to promote a stronger trilateral cooperation. The Grand Bargain is an
approach that acknowledges the role of the U.S in resolving the historical
issues between its allies.
Without taking sides between the two, the U.S. can play a “facilitating” role
to enable the three nations to cooperate to forge a future-oriented
partnership to ensure regional security and prosperity, the authors point
out.
With the U.S. acknowledging its deep involvement in the historical events at
the end of World War II that gave rise to the ongoing historical conflicts
between Korea and Japan, the U.S. can set the mood for the two nations to
pursue a “stable and productive” relationship, they argue.
Both authors are renowned for their extensive research on East Asian
politics. Glosserman is the executive director of Pacific Forum CSIS, a
research arm of the U.S.-based think tank Center for Strategic and
International Studies. Snyder is senior fellow for Korea studies and director
of the program on U.S.-Korea policy at the Council on Foreign Relations.
Just Juice for a day: a detox review, Kick-start to durable plan
of healthy living
Endorsed
by celebrities and health nuts around the world, the juice cleanse has become
the latest trend in today’s era of fitness and organic eating.
What exactly does it entail? The idea is to flush out unwanted toxins from
your body and to pump in raw, easily absorbable nutrients in juice
form.
Though variations exist, the most common method is fasting for one to three
days, drinking nothing but juice every three to four hours.
To experience its effects firsthand, I decided to take up the challenge for
one day.
For my trial, I selected the Just Juice Total Cleanse pack from Organica, the
first juice detox program to be launched in Korea. The set is carefully
designed to maintain blood sugar and energy levels throughout the day,
providing an influx of vitamins and minerals from various different
combinations of fruit and vegetables.
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Organica’s
three-day Just Juice Total Cleanse pack is priced at 178,200 won, with 18
bottles. The one-day pack, consisting of six bottles, can be purchased at
59,400 won, while individual bottles of Green Love and Root Heart are
available at 9,900 won per bottle. (Organica)
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I kicked off the
morning with a hearty swig of Green Love, the first of the six bottles I was
to down that day. True to its name, the juice boasted a ripe shade of green
with kiwi, apple, cucumber, spinach and melon -- an assortment of vegetables
and fruits low in acidity so as not to upset the sleepy stomach. The
sweetness of the melon, the zest of the kiwi and the freshness of the
cucumber all came together in an invigorating wakeup dose.
Pushing aside the instinctive urge for a large latte with extra syrup, as per
my usual morning routine, I drained the bottle. Shortly afterward, I began to
feel a slight gurgling sensation in my lower stomach, as if my intestines
were jumping to action from the liquid and fiber.
Two hours later, I wearily popped open the pinkish-red bottle of Berry Slim,
a vitamin-filled drink with strawberry, cranberry, apple and apple vinegar.
My hesitation began to fade, however, as I happily gulped down the delicious
solution. Much healthier and more flavorful than your average strawberry
juice, this, I told myself, is something I would love to drink every morning.
As the clock struck 1 p.m., my colleagues returned from lunch, stuffed. I
smiled ruefully, waved and twisted the cap off Green Up, the third and
greenest juice of the day, containing celery, kale, spinach, cucumber, ginger
and melon. Though many might be intimidated by the leafy contents, the juice
is refreshing and easy to drink, nicely complementing the sweetness of the
previous bottles.
After a good three hours of enhanced productivity, it was time for the bright
yellow Skinny Line. Those familiar with the Lemon Detox will recognize the
ingredients in this mixture: lemon, apple and cayenne pepper. The juice
tastes like a more flavorful lemonade, and the sourness of the lemon and kick
of the cayenne instantly stimulated my senses and sped up circulation.
At this point, I began to tangibly feel the effects of the cleanse. I was not
overcome by my habitual afternoon drowsiness. My mind was more alert, my body
felt considerably lighter and even my mood lifted as the day went by.
What is more, the hunger pangs that I had been expecting did not come, as the
fiber and substantial size of the juice servings left me feeling satiated.
Healthy snacks like granola bars or sweet potato sticks, of course, can
supplement the cleanse if needed.
Next in line was Root Heart at 8 p.m. A vivid crimson color and lush with
beet, carrot, apple, lemon and ginger, this rich blend was as tasty as it
looked and invigorated my system for nighttime activities. Feeling more lean
and energized than I had in months, I followed up with some light stretching
exercises to maximize the detox results.
Finally before bed, I took Chia Coco, a creamy concoction of coconut water,
yam, chia seeds, flax seeds and acacia honey, and the last bottle in the
routine. Soothed and nourished, I dozed off after what had been a
surprisingly pleasant day.
There are many conflicting views regarding the juice cleanse. Skeptics say it
is based on little scientific proof. Defenders claim it allows your entire
digestive system to reboot by relieving your stomach of the laborious task of
breaking down food. A cleanse can help boost your immune system, they say,
because only the purest, most concentrated forms of nutrients are infused
into your body. Others are drawn to the weight-loss effects, while some even
report alleviated depression.
The biggest caveat, possibly, is that detoxing should not be seen as a
quick-fix diet or a means to legitimize yesterday’s guilty late-night snack;
rather, it should offer a kick-start to a durable plan of healthy
living.
Fasting is by no means crucial -- juices can simply serve as refreshing
snacks or a good way to incorporate extra servings of greens into your
everyday meals.
The bottom line is, as with any structured dietary regimen, the juice cleanse
should be carried out with careful nutritional guidelines and for short
periods of time.
When done the right way, I have discovered, it will allow you to experience
remarkable mental clarity and a pleasantly refreshed physical state.
This is the fifth and last in a series of articles on new fitness and
diet trends in Korea. -- Ed.
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