The Universal Nomos of the Versailles Peace System and the Different Dreams of Korea and Japan : National Self-Determination and Racial Equality

Abstract

This study deals with Koreas pursuit of national self-determination during the time the Versailles Peace System was being made and how their pursuit was obstructed. In addition, this study illustrates how the Covenant of the League of Nations within the Versailles Peace System was an obstacle to Japans pursuit of racial equality. The conclusions of this paper are as follows. First, the Versailles Peace System attempted to establish a universal nomos. However, the principle of national self-determination was only applied to the European sphere, while Korean national self-determination was not accepted within the Versailles Peace System; instead, the Japanese Asian Monroe Doctrine was implemented. In this framework, Korea was considered only as part of Japan. Second, as a member of the victorious Big Five, Japan attempted to insert a racial equality provision into the preamble of the Covenant of the League of Nations, without success. This frustration led to an increased skepticism on the universality of the nomos of the Versailles Peace System and further nourished Japans war ideology of Greater East Asia (Daitoa, 大東亞).