Abstract
This introductory chapter introduces readers to the Northeast Asian region and asks why economic integration, which has generated peace and stability for the last twenty-five years, seems unable to contain growing incompatibilities between China, Japan and the Republic of Korea. The central argument is that economic ties, while important, cannot negate unresolved painful memories and war histories nor generate sustainable reconciliation or deal effectively with negative stereotypes and prejudice between the leaders and peoples of all three countries. To do this requires much closer attention to the development of satisfiers of popular and national identity needs, alongside bilateral and regional de-escalatory dynamics, which will enable states and peoples in the region to think in terms of future-oriented integrative relationships capable of dealing with painful history in order to create a peaceful present and future.
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Notes
- 1.
These workshops were attended by senior academics, policy makers and journalists from all three countries. While not participating in any official capacity, each participant had some experience of what moved national decision-makers in each country (some of them were and still are active defence or foreign policy actors).
- 2.
The workshops were conducted on principles of confidentiality and Chatham house rules. When I refer to these workshops, I will do so with non attributable summary reports from the three meetings. These summaries are based on near verbatim reports from the different conversations.
- 3.
Honne and Tatemae can best be described at the private and public self. “Honne” reflects real feelings and “Tatemae” is the façade or the face Japanese show in public. This distinction also exists in Chinese culture as well but it is more prominent in Japan.
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Clements, K.P. (2018). Trust, Identity and Conflict in Northeast Asia – Barriers to Positive Relationships. In: Clements, K. (eds) Identity, Trust, and Reconciliation in East Asia. Rethinking Peace and Conflict Studies. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-54897-5_1
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