| Chapter : | Introduction |
|
|
good governance and how this affects judgments based upon its use. He suggests that an ability to see reality through the eyes of the North Koreans—even though one may strongly disagree with their views—is necessary in order to render their policy behavior intelligible. Helgesen concludes that ethnocentrism is the primary obstacle one must overcome in order to achieve empathy and that good governance may best be interpreted with cultural sensitivity. The chapter is akin to a policy position paper, the argument of which parallels that of the broader text: one can understand North Korea only after seeing the world through its lens.
Shifting the focus to the international arena, the next set of chapters deals with North Korea’s diplomatic history, the evolution of foreign policy, and Pyongyang’s policy pattern toward the West. Chapter 7 provides an overview of recent US foreign policy toward North Korea, arguing that it has been fundamentally flawed and that another approach is needed. Bruce Cumings chronicles the failed predictions of Washington pundits regarding regime collapse in the DPRK and examines the threat of war as a tool for effecting regime change. He writes of Seoul’s achievements engaging the North, then assesses the likelihood of the DPRK’s returning to the negotiating table given the contemporary situation. Cumings concludes by recommending that the world shed its polarized Cold War mindset and move in the direction of a calm, steady, nuanced, and persistent policy process with respect to Pyongyang.
Chapter 8 illuminates the process of foreign policy decision making. Alexander Zhebin focuses on the institutions and officials responsible for the decisions; he describes the mechanics (both formal and informal) of their interplay, illustrating his points with historical examples. Zhebin then discusses the role of personality in foreign policy, detailing the Kim dynasty. Changing focus from domestic determinants, he then proceeds to examine the DPRK’s nuclear ambitions and how the North Koreans exploited the US–China dimension of the crisis. Looking forward, the author ascertains the North Korean position regarding a multilateral security regime in northeast Asia and examines the issue of reunification.