Assistant Professor of Political Science Seung-Youn Oh has written an op-ed titled "Old Walled Politics or New Pandemic Peace? Lessons from South Korea" for GlobalAsia.
From the article:
"We may be standing at the crossroads of a historically decisive make-or-break moment for today’s global system of political and economic co-operation. History tells us that when countries pulled up their drawbridges and embraced economic nationalism, the result was war, devastation and destruction. The current pandemic did not stem from competition between states or shifts in the balance of power. Yet politicization of the virus and domestic insecurity have shaken faith in global economic integration and political collaboration. Return to the old walled politics is a risky path for all because exclusionary nationalism in the region will further widen the cracks that already existed due to unresolved historical memories, different regime types and alliance politics."
Oh specializes in international relations and comparative politics in East Asia. Her broader academic interests include China’s economic statecraft, the nexus between economy and security, industrial upgrading, corporate governance, the effects of national origin of foreign direct investment on local economic development, and the evolving role of the Chinese government at the national and sub-national levels in shaping the country’s developmental path.