This study aims on classifying and analyzing the development process of the transnational civil society network for the resolution of the comfort women issue, in reference to the cycle of cooperation and conflict of Korea-Japan relations. This study classifies the development process into six phases...
This study aims on classifying and analyzing the development process of the transnational civil society network for the resolution of the comfort women issue, in reference to the cycle of cooperation and conflict of Korea-Japan relations. This study classifies the development process into six phases: formation (1988~1992), development (1993~1997), conflict (1998~2002), expansion (2003~2007), cooperation (2008~2012) and culmination (2013~2015). First, this study analyzes how the transnational civil society network for the comfort women issue was formed. Second, this study looks into key issues within each phase and analyzes whether there were any changes on the solidarity within the network and if there indeed were any changes, which were the catalysts for them. Third, this study examines the cycle of cooperation and conflict between South Korea and Japan. More specifically, this study provides an analysis on the policy changes in each government administration in both Korea and Japan on the issue of the comfort women.
The findings of this study are as follows. The comfort women issue is both universal and national, as it is an issue on human rights and also as it is a violation of human rights between two countries within the East Asian region. The critical factor to this issue is whether the Japanese government comes to term with the logical conclusion that being held responsible for their actions by accepting international norms and compensating the victims for their loss and damage will benefit their national interest. National interests come in multiple forms, but on the political sphere, such actions will benefit Japan economically in the East Asian region while domestically, such actions may help the government gain leverage on policy decision-making, leading to victories in elections.
In addition, this study shows that the transnational civil society network and the coalition of NGOs for the comfort women issue are influenced by Korean-Japan relations, international politics, socio-economic backgrounds and cultural factors. The political and socio-economic factors in the affected countries such as Korea and China, the public opinion in Japan, the discovery of materials related with the comfort women issue, as well as politics have significant effects on the formation and dissolution of coalitions. Moreover, such factors affect NGO policies. In the beginning, the Japanese government, which was pressured by the international community, intended to solve the comfort women issue by launching the Asian Women’s Fund (AWF) and giving out compensation for the victims. The AWF, however, was rejected by the South Korean government and the affected Asian countries on the ground that the fund was collected through private donations. This example indicates how the different intents of the Korean and Japanese government have direct effects on policies concerning the comfort women.
The findings of this study also show how the coalition of the transnational civil society network for the comfort women issue weakens when it is encountered by nationalism. This phenomenon was noticeable in the relations between NGOs from the victimized Asian countries, including Korea and China, and those from Japan. The establishment of the AWF by the Japanese government as a scheme to resolve the comfort women issue, as well as the issue of punishing the Japanese emperor led the NGOs to split. With regard to the universal values of human rights and feminism, on the other hand, the solidarity of the transnational civil society network is shown to strengthen. Not only the Korea-Japan relations but also the range and role of the transnational civil society network will be expanded by overcoming such limitations and conflicts.
This study aims on classifying and analyzing the development process of the transnational civil society network for the resolution of the comfort women issue, in reference to the cycle of cooperation and conflict of Korea-Japan relations. This study classifies the development process into six phases: formation (1988~1992), development (1993~1997), conflict (1998~2002), expansion (2003~2007), cooperation (2008~2012) and culmination (2013~2015). First, this study analyzes how the transnational civil society network for the comfort women issue was formed. Second, this study looks into key issues within each phase and analyzes whether there were any changes on the solidarity within the network and if there indeed were any changes, which were the catalysts for them. Third, this study examines the cycle of cooperation and conflict between South Korea and Japan. More specifically, this study provides an analysis on the policy changes in each government administration in both Korea and Japan on the issue of the comfort women.
The findings of this study are as follows. The comfort women issue is both universal and national, as it is an issue on human rights and also as it is a violation of human rights between two countries within the East Asian region. The critical factor to this issue is whether the Japanese government comes to term with the logical conclusion that being held responsible for their actions by accepting international norms and compensating the victims for their loss and damage will benefit their national interest. National interests come in multiple forms, but on the political sphere, such actions will benefit Japan economically in the East Asian region while domestically, such actions may help the government gain leverage on policy decision-making, leading to victories in elections.
In addition, this study shows that the transnational civil society network and the coalition of NGOs for the comfort women issue are influenced by Korean-Japan relations, international politics, socio-economic backgrounds and cultural factors. The political and socio-economic factors in the affected countries such as Korea and China, the public opinion in Japan, the discovery of materials related with the comfort women issue, as well as politics have significant effects on the formation and dissolution of coalitions. Moreover, such factors affect NGO policies. In the beginning, the Japanese government, which was pressured by the international community, intended to solve the comfort women issue by launching the Asian Women’s Fund (AWF) and giving out compensation for the victims. The AWF, however, was rejected by the South Korean government and the affected Asian countries on the ground that the fund was collected through private donations. This example indicates how the different intents of the Korean and Japanese government have direct effects on policies concerning the comfort women.
The findings of this study also show how the coalition of the transnational civil society network for the comfort women issue weakens when it is encountered by nationalism. This phenomenon was noticeable in the relations between NGOs from the victimized Asian countries, including Korea and China, and those from Japan. The establishment of the AWF by the Japanese government as a scheme to resolve the comfort women issue, as well as the issue of punishing the Japanese emperor led the NGOs to split. With regard to the universal values of human rights and feminism, on the other hand, the solidarity of the transnational civil society network is shown to strengthen. Not only the Korea-Japan relations but also the range and role of the transnational civil society network will be expanded by overcoming such limitations and conflicts.
Keyword
#일본군위안부 초국적 시민네트워크 한일관계
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