The Mobilisation of Memory: History Problems in Japan-South Korea Relations (Provisional)

我的博士研究将研究日本和韩国之间的关系。几十年来，国际关系学者一直对这种关系感到非常困惑，因为尽管两国有着非常相似的地区利益，并有着美国这样一个基本盟友，但两国之间几乎没有合作，特别是安全合作。事实上，日韩关系的特点是不断发生口角和争吵，这种敌意主要涉及所谓的“历史问题”，即对日本战时和殖民行为的分歧，特别是要求东京方面（进一步）道歉、赔偿和改变行为的程度。它往往是在日本的行动被韩国视为对相关历史不敏感时达到顶峰，或者相反，韩国的行动与日本认为具有挑衅性或煽动性的相关历史有关。

My proposed doctoral research will examine relations between Japan and South Korea. For many decades, International Relations (IR) scholars have been greatly puzzled by this relationship due to the fact that, even though the two countries have vastly similar regional interests and share a fundamental ally in the United States, there is little to no cooperation - particularly security cooperation - between them. In fact, Japan-South Korea relations are characterised by repeated spats and quarrels.This animosity principally relates to the so-called 'history problem' - that is, disagreements regarding Japan's wartime and colonial conduct and, in particular, the extent to which (further) apologies, restitution and changes in behaviour are required from Tokyo. It is often peaked by a Japanese action perceived by South Korea as insensitive to the relevant history, or, conversely, a Korean action relating to this history deemed provocative or inflammatory by Japan.