International relations theory tends to be characterized by a dichotomy between those who emphasize international constraints with regards to grand strategy and foreign policy decisions, most often associated with realist theories of international relations, and those who emphasize domestic factors, most notably liberal theories. These two approaches are often framed as if they were incompatible. This article attempts to contribute to bridging the gap by examining the presidencies of Syngman Rhee and Park Chung Hee of the Republic of Korea. A comparison between the two presidencies reveals very different political visions for the Republic of Korea. However, it also shows very contrasting grand strategy and foreign policy options under similar international constraints. This is consistent with neoclassical realist theory and the idea that grand strategy and foreign policy are fundamentally determined by international pressures but nevertheless are also influenced by domestic-level factors.
International orders reflect the settled arrangements that define relations between states in certain moments in history. Order breaks down when the adopted set of organizational principles that define roles and the terms of those relations cease to operate. International organizations are a central feature of the current order and an important source of legitimacy. This article extracts a set of ideas derived from the new sociological institutionalism literature in organizational analysis and sets out an argument showing their possible implications for the present order. I argue that there are certain organizational features related to institutional isomorphism that may well support the persistence and maintenance of the current international order. The argument is based on the homogeneity of practices and arrangements found in different institutions and organizations. The persistence of those practices and their reproduction in structures are to some extent self-sustaining and may provide additional support to the idea that the current American-led international order may last longer than is often thought while allowing for changes in the distribution of power.
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