Date: Monday 10th March

Time: 13:15 -14:30

Venue: FAB2.32, Faculty of Arts Building

Recent global conflicts, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Israeli-Palestinian war, the decline of French military influence in West Africa, the collapse of the Syrian regime, the strengthening Russo-North Korean alliance, and escalating tensions in the Taiwan Strait, have led some to argue that the world is entering a new Cold War. However, this emerging geopolitical rivalry differs significantly from the 20th-century Cold War, as contemporary foreign and security policies are increasingly shaped by national identity rather than ideological commitments. For instance, Russia’s justification for its invasion of Ukraine was framed through irredentist claims rather than ideological rhetoric, while China’s approach to Taiwan has been grounded in nationalist discourse rather than socialist principles. Understanding the role of national identity provides a critical framework for analysing international relations and informing British foreign policy. This seminar will examine how political elites’ perceptions of national identity influence foreign policymaking, with a particular focus on Japan-South Korea relations (2017–2024). Additionally, it will explore recent political developments in South Korea, specifically the motivations behind the president’s declaration of martial law, which appear to be closely linked to his perceptions of domestic political dynamics and the broader Northeast Asian geopolitical landscape.

Dr Yeong Ik Kim is a junior researcher in International Relations, specialising in the influence of national identity on foreign policy-making through constructivism and discourse analysis, with a focus on Japan, South Korea, and China. He holds a BA in Law from Peking University (2012), an MA in International Area Studies from Seoul National University (2015), and a PhD in Politics from King’s College London (2024). His professional experience includes service as a First Lieutenant in the Republic of Korea Air Force and as an Assistant Professor at the Korea Air Force Academy (2015–2018), where he developed expertise in inter-Korean dynamics, US-ROK joint military strategy, and North Korea/China’s hybrid warfare tactics. He has also worked in the Republic of Korea’s National Assembly. His research interests encompass South Korea and Japan’s foreign and security policies, US-Japan-South Korea trilateral security cooperation, UK-Japan/South Korea interoperation, and Britain’s strategic role in the Indo-Pacific. He has co-authored an Asian Survey article on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its implications for China-North Korea relations entitled Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine and China-North Korea Relations: Stronger Weak-Great Power Alignment, as well as a book chapter on South Korea’s strategic narratives towards China in The Role of Threat Perceptions in International Relations: An Analysis of China’s Rise in the Indo-Pacific, published by Routledge.

For a Teams invite, please contact the easg@warwick.ac.uk