The Function Of South Korean Congress On Two-Level Game Foreign Policy

With the development of democracy in South Korea and the improvement of the South Korean Congress’ function, the Congress is playing a more and more important role in South Korean foreign policy. Because of changes in the political ecosystem and the formation of domestic political appeals, South Korea’s foreign policy-making reveals clearly a pattern of two-level games diplomacy.During the early period of the liberation of the Korean Peninsula, when the foundation of democracy and nation-building was weak, the Congress lacked autonomy and sense of participation in diplomacy. There was clearly a consistent preference for internal interests. The win-sets were maximized and international negotiations were easy to succeed. Under the authoritarian regime, the most important feature of the Congress is the losing of its autonomy. Even the rights of the Congress regulated by the Constitution were greatly reduced. Therefore, the diplomacy in this period features a government-led one-level games model. Later on, the democratic transformation promoted the progress in South Korea’s democratic parliamentary politics, freeing the Congress from the absolute influence of the ruling party and the government. The autonomy of the Congress was greatly increased. However, compared to the United States Congress, the South Korean Congress still lacks initiative in foreign policymaking.The initiative of South Korean Congress’"two-level games diplomacy" in foreign policy is determined mainly by three variables. The autonomy of the Congress is reflected in its relationship with the government and the ruling party. It means the Congress is not controlled by the ruling party and the government, and represents the public interests of its citizens and of various groups, thus gaining the ability in foreign policy decision-making. This variable determines whether or not the Congress influences the foreign policy of the country. Variation of the Congress focuses on the differentiation of interests inside the Congress and the structure of alliances within it. This variable determines they ways the Congress influences the country’s foreign policy. The Congress’ sense of participation in foreign policy is defined by the Congress’ willingness to participate in foreign policymaking when it has the ability to exert its influence on foreign policy, and whether it plays an active role in the process of diplomatic decision-making. This variable determines the Congress’actual impact on the country’s foreign policymaking. Together these three variables leaded to the Congress’ influence on foreign policymaking; the influence sometimes strong, sometimes weak; the situation sometimes simple, sometimes complex.The two-level games model in foreign policy surely exists in South Korea, and is playing a part in South Korea’s foreign policy. However, with the evolution of the Congress’ autonomy, variation and sense of participation, the role played by the Congress in two-level games diplomacy cannot be simplified. Generally speaking, with a democratic political system similar to that in the United States, South Korea’s foreign policymaking is operated in accordance with the two-level games model. However, because of the uniqueness of South Korea’s political culture and international politics, the operation of two-level games also exhibits its own characteristic, forming the South Korean "two-level games" diplomatic model.