From Middle Power to Pivot Power: Korea as an Arctic Observer in the Age of Eurasia

Abstract

Whilst identification of Korea's Arctic issue agenda and motives has been established, there is little examination as to determining why certain issues and partnerships are being developed at certain points in the context of regional geopolitical shifts. I argue that Korea's role in the Arctic represents a shift in Korea's middle power strategy from bridge nation to pivot nation. Korea's current Arctic strategy links to a wider transcontinental strategy. As a result, conventional middle power criteria are being challenged by a strategy based on network centrality rather than "middle" structural location or resource concentration. This shift represents not just "middle power" leverage but opens potentially different understandings and expectations over what counts as middle power leverage.

Between global collaboration and national competition: Unraveling the many faces of Arctic science diplomacy

“…It is a tried and tested approach to rely on this type of policy paper to gain a better understanding of national interests in the Arctic, either for specific policy sectors or holistic analyses of governmental responses to policy challenges (Heininen et al, 2020;Luszczuk, Padrtova, & Szczerbowicz, 2020;Schulze, 2017). Previous research has already dealt with individual positions by analysing single Arctic policies (Chen, 2012;Koivurova et al, 2020;Staun, 2017;Watson, 2016). There is also literature on bilateral perceptions between dyads or groups of countries (Lundestad & Tunsjø, 2015;Østhagen, Sharp, & Hilde, 2018;Solli, Wilson Rowe, & Yennie Lindgren, 2013).…”