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Att förstå en kluven regim: En studie av Nordkoreas kärnvapenpolitik

Klinker, Karl LU (2010) STVK01 20102
Department of Political Science
Abstract
The North Korean policy of nuclear weapons has always constituted a puzzle for political scientists, media analysts and politicians. The inconsistency permeating this policy area makes it particularly hard to grasp. The aim of this case study is to enhance the cumulative knowledge of the North Korean policy of nuclear weapons by applying three theories of international relations: Realism, constructivism and liberalism. Using a broad theoretical approach, I intend to illuminate the different and sometimes competing factors and motives that underlie the nuclear policy in North Korea. Viewed from a realistic perspective, the main drives behind this policy seem to stem from traditional security concerns, where nuclear weapons work as a... (More)
The North Korean policy of nuclear weapons has always constituted a puzzle for political scientists, media analysts and politicians. The inconsistency permeating this policy area makes it particularly hard to grasp. The aim of this case study is to enhance the cumulative knowledge of the North Korean policy of nuclear weapons by applying three theories of international relations: Realism, constructivism and liberalism. Using a broad theoretical approach, I intend to illuminate the different and sometimes competing factors and motives that underlie the nuclear policy in North Korea. Viewed from a realistic perspective, the main drives behind this policy seem to stem from traditional security concerns, where nuclear weapons work as a deterrent towards mainly the U.S. The constructivist perspective focuses on identity formation and particularly how the Juche-ideology stresses the importance of nuclear weapons as a countermeasure against imperialists and as a guarantor of North Korean greatness. Finally the liberalist perspective views the North Korean policy in this field as a way to extract economic and diplomatic concessions. I find a broad theoretical approach to be the only way to sufficiently comprehend the dynamics in North Korean policy of nuclear weapons. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Klinker, Karl LU
supervisor
organization
course
STVK01 20102
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
Liberalism, Constructivism, Realism, Nuclear weapons, North Korea
language
Swedish
id
1758010
date added to LUP
2011-02-10 11:19:24
date last changed
2011-02-10 11:19:24
@misc{1758010,
  abstract     = {{The North Korean policy of nuclear weapons has always constituted a puzzle for political scientists, media analysts and politicians. The inconsistency permeating this policy area makes it particularly hard to grasp. The aim of this case study is to enhance the cumulative knowledge of the North Korean policy of nuclear weapons by applying three theories of international relations: Realism, constructivism and liberalism. Using a broad theoretical approach, I intend to illuminate the different and sometimes competing factors and motives that underlie the nuclear policy in North Korea. Viewed from a realistic perspective, the main drives behind this policy seem to stem from traditional security concerns, where nuclear weapons work as a deterrent towards mainly the U.S. The constructivist perspective focuses on identity formation and particularly how the Juche-ideology stresses the importance of nuclear weapons as a countermeasure against imperialists and as a guarantor of North Korean greatness. Finally the liberalist perspective views the North Korean policy in this field as a way to extract economic and diplomatic concessions. I find a broad theoretical approach to be the only way to sufficiently comprehend the dynamics in North Korean policy of nuclear weapons.}},
  author       = {{Klinker, Karl}},
  language     = {{swe}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Att förstå en kluven regim: En studie av Nordkoreas kärnvapenpolitik}},
  year         = {{2010}},
}