Does political generation matter for foreign policy?

Abstract

What is the relationship between political generation and foreign policy? By examining Korea�s sudden and sharp foreign policy change during the Roh Moo-hyun government, 2003-2007, in this article I show that when a political generation with distinctive emotions and preferences rises in power, it can have a significant impact on foreign policy. Despite the alliance ties with the United States and North Korea�s continuing development of nuclear weapons, the Roh government sought to redefine relations with the former, while deepening economic and political engagement with the latter to an unprecedented extent. I argue that the rise of what I call the �democratization generation� in Korean politics is the key to understanding why Korea�s foreign policy changed in this period. The findings of the paper suggest that a salient political generation is indeed an important domestic source of foreign policy preferences and change. Show more