| This dissertation explores one of the core issues confronting international relations scholars after the Cold War: globalization and its effect on states and the world order. Specifically, I examine how and to what extent globalization affects change in a state's foreign economic policy. Change is prevalent when a crisis is exacerbated by a shift in key areas within the state, such as the fundamental structural conditions of the economy or political system, and the strategic political leadership. Given that all three of these changes occurred almost concurrently in South Korea in late 1997 and early 1998 with the onslaught of the economic crisis, it is puzzling that we have not seen the kind of fundamental shifts one would expect in Korea's foreign economic policy orientation. Although on the surface it would seem that dramatic changes in policy have occurred, in actuality fundamental shifts in strategic policy formation and behavior, both on the part of the state and business, have not taken root. Therefore, this dissertation examines the question: what explains the rigidity or lack of change in Korean foreign economic policy, despite seemingly unmitigated pressures for fundamental shifts both in practice and in orientation of the economy? In answering this question, I apply and expand the existing literature on three key areas: globalization, strategic culture and ideas. |
