ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the main argument of the book, defines the central theoretical concepts that will be used throughout the analysis, and situates the book within the relevant literature. First, we present the emergence and evolution of the “Asian paradox”, as the specific topic that will be analysed throughout the volume. The dichotomy between economic and security relations, in fact, will be one of the main lenses, together with the influence of domestic political traditions, through which the different challenges of recent South Korean foreign policy will be analysed. Second, we outline the fundamental characteristics of the interpretive approach to foreign policy, based on the emphasis posed on non-material factors, such as: beliefs, traditions, ideology, party politics, dilemmas. Furthermore, we provide a critical survey of the positivist theoretical approaches, traditionally used to address South Korean foreign policy challenges, identifying the specific limitations of these approaches and underlining how the innovative interpretive approach can overcome these shortcomings. Finally, the first chapter will outline the structure of the volume, and the interconnections and contribution of the single chapters.
