Call for Submissions

The Yale Journal of International Affairs is seeking submissions!


Description
The Yale Journal of International Affairs (YJIA) is a graduate student-run academic journal that publishes articles, interviews, book reviews and op-eds by scholars, graduate students and policy practitioners on topics pertinent to current international affairs. Past contributors to YJIA include: Tony Blair, Paul Collier, Joseph Stiglitz, Ambassador John Negroponte, Mary Kaldor, Nancy Birdsall, and Steven Walt, among others. To view the online version of our past issues, please visit our website: http://www.yalejournal.org/.

Upcoming Issue: Spotlight on Women
In recognition of the United Nations General Assembly’s unanimous vote in July 2010 to establish the body, UN Woman, the Fall 2010 issue of the Yale Journal of International Affairs will include a special Spotlight on Women with the aim of contributing to academic and policy discussions concerning the enhancement of women’s rights around the world. In this regard, we encourage submissions that focus on an international women’s issue. Approximately half of the Fall 2010 issue will be committed to the theme of women, thus YJIA will also consider submissions on other topics of international import.

Submissions
The Yale Journal of International Affairs accepts three types of submissions: 1) Articles (3,000 to 5,000 words), 2) Book reviews (2,000 words or less), and 3) Op-eds (800 words or less). Details about these submissions can be found online at: www.yalejournal.org/submissions.
When sending your submission, please adhere to the following guidelines:
Cover letter: Submissions must include a cover letter indicating the author's name, institutional affiliation, contact information (including email address and phone number), and a brief biography.
Abstract: A 100-word abstract must accompany all submissions.
Format: Submissions must conform to the conventions of the Chicago Manual of Style, 15th Edition. Citations must take the form of endnotes and be formatted according to the YJIA Style Guide, available on the YJIA website: www.yalejournal.org/submissions.
Deadline: Submissions for the upcoming issue must be submitted electronically as Microsoft Word documents to mai.truong@yale.edu no later than October 31, 2010. Authors will be notified of the status of their submissions mid-November 2010.
Please share this call for submissions with appropriate faculty, students and policy practitioners.

For further information, please contact:
Mai Truong (mai.truong@yale.edu), Editor-in-Chief, Yale Journal of International Affairs
34 Hillhouse Avenue; New Haven, CT 06511; http://www.yalejournal.org/

Summer Research in South Korea

by

Justin Collier

MA Candidate (2010)

It is an exciting time to study Asia! If you are able to actually study in Asia you should consider yourself most fortunate. Thanks to George Washington University’s Sigur Center’s Field Research Grant, I was one of those lucky people. I was afforded the opportunity to conduct my research in South Korea this summer (2010). I will get to my research a little later first I want to take the time to make a quick plug for studying in Asia. On average about 250,000 American students study abroad every year, which is astounding considering that this number has quadrupled in the past 20 years. Interestingly, despite consistent annual increases in study abroad in Asia, notably China, American students still overwhelming prefer to study in Europe. In fact, nearly half of the students that study abroad, study in Western Europe. The rest of the students are divided up between Latin America, Australia and Asia (mostly China and Japan). By contrast, the largest numbers of international students, studying in the US, overwhelmingly come from Asia. In fact according to the Institute of International Education’s Open Doors report, of the top 5 countries who study abroad in the US are:

1 India

2 China

3 South Korea

4 Canada

5 Japan

(with Taiwan running a not so distant 6^th)

This is significant because the world’s economic power is rapidly shifting to Asia. For the fast-growing countries of East Asia and South Asia, there is a continuing opportunity for rapid growth. Some economic calculations suggest that, under sensible assumptions, Asia’s share in world GDP could grow to more than half of the world economy over the next thirty years. In layman’s terms the party is going to be in Asia and if this is indeed a globalized world it would be in the US’ best interests to have a working knowledge of the histories, cultures, politics and languages of this dynamic region. For now, sadly, it is a one way street, with Asian students, in large numbers, studying in the US and learning English (sometimes with great difficulty) and American students often choosing the comfortable and the culturally familiar.

So to future study abroad students, try Asia! Sure learning Korean is not the easiest language you can choose, (although it is not as difficult as you might think). Sure, the Thai climate, especially in summer, may leave you a sweaty mess. It may be a new and uncomfortable experience to be the only person that looks like you on the subway car in Taipei. Living in Tokyo may be more difficult than living in London particularly for an American. However, should you choose to go to Asia, I guarantee it will change your life forever.

(Steps down from soapbox)

I went to South Korea for two months this summer to conduct my research on Asian Regional Community. I am interested in whether or not shared socio-cultural factors can serve to create an economic and political union in Asia similar to the European Union. I tried to understand such daunting questions as: “What is Asia?”or “Who are considered to be Asians?” I chose South Korea for many reasons, none the least of which being its strong sense of national pride and unity. I figure, perhaps rather naively, that if the idea of regional community has legs in South Korea then conceivably it may in other countries as well. This was not my first trip to South Korea. I worked as an English instructor in Pusan, South Korea’s 2^nd largest city. Pusan is located in the peninsula’s southeast tip, it is a city divided by mountains with roughly 4 million inhabitants. With all the sunshine and numerous beaches it isn’t hard to figure out why so many Koreans holiday there. People often try to draw some comparison between Pusan and LA or Miami but it really isn’t fair to do so. For risk of sounding cliché, Pusan really is a very unique piece of Korea. Don’t get me wrong, Seoul is an extraordinary city and it is a true testament to the South Korean economic miracle and any visitor to South Korea should try to spend significant time there. With its numerous skyscrapers, copious palaces and temples, hip, cosmopolitan citizens, and (of course) the infamous demilitarized zone, Seoul is often the destination of choice for most visitors. It is the seat of government and culture for South Korea, after all. Walking around one of the trendy, fashion conscious, pristine, upscale districts of Gangnam like Apkujongdong (or even across the Han river at City Hall and Myeongdong) you can quickly forget that you are in Korea at all. However, I chose Pusan because it is not cosmopolitan (people openly gawk at foreigners on the street), it doesn’t have all the skyscrapers or a DMZ but nowhere in its sprawling streets will you ever forget that you are in Korea. Pusan is just different. It is a city settled and designed by the Japanese, Pusan people speak a special dialect which is much different from what is heard in Seoul and politically they have very distinct political views and have proven to be influential throughout Korean political history. In short Pusan in not Seoul and may therefore (I hope) provide my research with some regional diversity of thought.

If you want to survey South Korean people it is important to factor in the regional differences. So, although I was based in Pusan, I traveled to Seoul and also to Kwangju (in Jeolla province and is unique in its own right) surveying university students in each city. Needless to say during summer it is not easy to find students on any college campus in the world and Korea was no different. Nevertheless, I was able survey nearly 70 Korean students. I, also, interviewed some faculty and journalist, not only about my research topic but international relations, gender issues and Korean nationalism. Speaking of nationalism, the World Cup in South Africa had just kicked off when I arrived and Korea was a wash in a sea of red, red being the color of the Korean men’s national soccer team. Every store and street kiosk was draped in red and the Korean flag was EVERYWHERE! You could hardly turn on the TV without seeing some actor or singers singing national soccer fight songs and cheering on their team. On game day everyone (well almost everyone) was wearing red and chanting: “Daehan Minguk!!!” or other songs to cheer on their team, affectionately known as the “Red Devils”. This was particularly impressive since the games usually were broadcast in the early hours of the morning. Visiting Korea during a World Cup is an experience unto itself and once you have experienced it you will have a little “Red Devil” in you.

All in all I enjoy myself when I visit South Korea. This isn’t to say everything in Korea is great. The suicide rate is high, nationalism can be extreme bordering on intimidating, people work too hard, binge drinking and chain smoking is a ubiquitous way of life and women are still struggling to be on equal footing with men. Nevertheless, all countries have their issues and these things should not dissuade anyone from visiting. Nestled between two giants and a short train ride away from its mortal enemy it is the perfect place for the aspiring Asia scholar to study politics business and culture. As I said before, the party is going to be in Asia and Korea is right in the thick of it. So, go to Korea, bring your open mind and you will leave a part of yourself. What you will get in exchange is a piece of Korea.

DAEHAN MINGUK!!!

GW Grads in the Peace Corps

GW Today highlighted some GW graduates who will be spending the next two years abroad serving with the Peace Corps. One of the students, Brenda Tobin (BA) will be traveling to Cambodia for her service. You can read the article, Serving the World, here. If you're interested in the Peace Corps, please feel free to come by and talk to the Center's Peace Corps alumnus, Matt Grieger!

Students in Singapore

The Columbian College's magazine has spotlighted the "Dean's Scholars in Globalization" program, which sent seven GW students to Singapore to work with colleagues at the National University of Singapore. The cohort was led by Sigur Center faculty members Professor Janet Steele of Media and Public Affairs, and Professor Joel Kuipers of the Department of Anthropology. You can read more about this program and the students' trip to Singapore here!

Internship announcement: Committee for Human Rights in North Korea

The Committee for Human Rights in North Korea in Washington DC announces its Fall 2010 Intern Selection Process. The Committee for Human Rights in North Korea invites competitive candidates to apply for semester, 6-month, and 1-year internships at the Committee’s headquarters in Washington DC. Current undergraduate students, recent post-graduates, and M.A candidacy applications should include a professional resume, cover letter addressed to the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea, and a writing sample from 500 to 1000 words in length.
Competitive applicants should have a strong interest in North Korea and human rights however candidates from a variety of concentrations will be considered. Specifically candidates with backgrounds in
· Political Science
· International Studies
· Government
· International Affairs/Relations
· Law
· Korean Studies/Korean Language
· Asian Studies
· Economics
· Communications

Successful applicants will be asked to provide references as well as undergo a formal interview process before being offered an internship. Internships are typically upaid and academic credit is available. Applications will be processed on a rolling basis, with the first applicants beginning in late August. Inquires can be made at the following:
The Committee for Human Rights in North Korea
1725 Eye Street NW Suite 300
Washington DC 20006
(202) 349-3832
committee@hrnk.org

US & China: Mutual Public Perceptions Conference

The Wilson Center is hosting a conference on "U.S. and China: Mutual Public Perceptions," next Monday and Tuesday. For more information, click here.

A Tale of Two Cities...In China

If anyone out there is planning to make a trip to China for the first time, be prepared to fall in love with the country. The people are engaging, the cities are lively, and the food is outstanding (if you stay away from intestine and blood cakes). Besides that, the U.S. dollar is still stronger than the yuan with $1 USD equaling to ¥ 6.774 CNY. The cheaper goods give Americans the privileges of eating at lavish restaurants, purchasing $3 massages, and hopping to lots of different bars.

The seamless mixture of modern glamour and traditional charm gives Chinese cities a truly unique characteristic that cannot be found anywhere else. The Chinese celebrate the their country’s unprecedented growth while simultaneously grasping to their age-old customs. China is a fantastic place to study abroad.

I have studied in China for two summers, a total of four months. The first time I ever studied there was in the summer of 2008, the same summer the Olympics were being held there. Naturally, I went to Beijing. I had never experienced anything quite like it. The program I went through was called ‘China Study Abroad’, CSA for short. They arrange for drivers to pick their students up from the airport the day they arrive. My driver was very nice and even gave me a beer during the forty-five minute drive from the airport to the Beijing Language and Culture University （北京语言大学). However unconventional it was to me at the time, I thought a beer was the perfect “Welcome to China” gift. Of course, the driver did not drink any. The Beijing Language and Culture University, or BLCU, is the only university in China dedicated to teaching foreigners the Chinese language and this was easily computed by the sheer amount of non-Chinese on the campus. Another clue to the mission of the university was that there were two bars on campus that obviously catered to thirsty Westerners. Also residing on the campus was a convenience store and a Muslim style Chinese restaurant that served as a constant reminder of how diverse China really is. The classes were very educational and the teachers were all very good. On top of that, CSA provided me with a private tutor that met with me five times a week for two hours. We became great friends. She would make me learn the language by only speaking to me in English when I was totally lost. She would also take me around the city and put me in situations where I was forced to speak Chinese. For example, we both got on bus and rode it one stop, then she suddenly got off and told me to ride it another stop and she would be waiting there. By taking me out of my comfort zone, she showed me what it took to learn a language and fully immerse one’s self in a foreign culture.

The second time I journeyed to China, I went to Shanghai. Do not be fooled by the comparisons of Shanghai to Ney York City. The two cities are nothing alike. They are both big and both have tall buildings devoted to business, but that is it. Shanghai is divided into two sections by the Hunagpu river: Pudong and Puxi. Pudong is the side shown in all the glimmering images of Shanghai depicting tall skyscrapers and the famous Pearl Tower. However, besides touring the skyscraper landmarks, there isn’t that much to do in Pudong. I lived in Puxi in an apartment close to Fudan University (复旦大学) where I studied through the same program of CSA. CSA helped me find the apartment after I told them that I could not tolerate my Californian roommate any longer. Fudan University is not as Westernized as BLCU’s campus, however, it does have a giant Western style mall not too far from it with tons of little traditional Chinese restaurants and food stands in between. The Fudan campus I lived on was the main campus in Wujiaochang (五角场)。 Besides having a Western style mall close by, Fudan also has a Wal-mart in the area as well. That made it easy to shop for Western style to cook at home. I thoroughly enjoyed my classes at Fudan, and I also had a private tutor that time around. We became just as good of friends as my last tutor and I did. We traveled around the city together and she showed me all of the sites to see as well as restaurants that she enjoyed. It was a wonderful learning experience.

Devin Anthony Foil

Asian Studies Major; Chinese and International Affairs Minor

4th year student; George Washington University