Analysis of dispute resolution between Japan and ROK in international hydrographic organization (IHO)

Abstract

Diplomatic relationship between Japan and South Korea has been tainted with conflicts over the history, but over the time, they have created a cooperative connection in the international scene as the leading actors of East Asian region. Particularly their relation within international institutions such as the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) can be used as an example for neoliberal institutionalist theory, where self-oriented state actors show the tendency of undertaking policy coordination due to the environment of international institution. However, this theory fails to fully explain the anomalies that appear in unique cases and one of them is the competitive relationship of Japan and South Korea in the International Hydrographic Organization due to a dispute over the naming of a sea area. This paper concentrates on the case study of the dynamics of Japan and South Korea revolving around the political dispute within the IHO, which is supposedly a nonpolitical international institution, and analyzes the factors behind this anomaly. In the first chapter, institutionalism and its theoretical background is covered, followed by its application in the IHO. Despite the cooperative purpose and atmosphere of the IHO, Japan and South Koreas dispute was pending from being solved, and the following chapters analyze the cause of anomaly from two aspects: (1) Internal factors including structural change within IHO and (2) external factors such as domestic influence from governments and public of Japan and ROK. Finally, after examining the factors that blocked Japan and ROK from solving the dispute, this thesis aims to identify the cause behind the failure of dispute resolution and the sufficient measure that can lead to better results in this issue.