The Koreas

The Koreas looks at Korea in the age of globalization. North and South are remarkably different, yet each in its own way plays a major role in the globalization era (albeit in diametrically opposed fashion). The North, impoverished yet bristling with weapons, is a major exporter of arms and a charter member of the "axis of evil" as defined by George W. Bush. It is also perhaps the most dangerous place in the world right now, as it arms itself with nuclear weapons and prepares for a possible military showdown with the United States. South Korea, on the other hand, is a country that has fully embraced its role as a major manufacturer of goods for a global market, and its economic ties to the rest of the world continue to grow and solidify. The South is also a major source of immigrants to the United States, and we can now talk of a global Korean diaspora.Armstrong will cover all of these issues, paying special attention to the Koreas' unique characteristics, their relationship to each other,their place in the East Asian region, and how they function in the currents of contemporary globalization.