Who decides foreign policy? The role of national trauma in shaping the influence of public opinion in South Korea

Jahyun Chun

Policy Studies, 2022, vol. 43, issue 5, 1021-1035

Abstract: The relative importance of public opinion in shaping foreign policy is a central area of research in international relations and public policy. This article aims to show how public opinion has influenced South Korea’s foreign-policy decision-making process and explores unique aspects of the Korean foreign policy. To this end, the article argues that the THAAD deployment and the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) are examples of foreign policies that were influenced by the traumatic memory of historical events, focusing on four variables: stage of the policy process, strength of the opposition, an imminent sense of threat, and the impact of national trauma. The theoretical framework presented in this study will contribute to a more analytical understanding of the relationship between public opinion and foreign policy in many states.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1080/01442872.2021.1895980

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