Jeffrey Robertson

Renewed interest in middle powers since the late 2000s has seen a surge in research. Yet an agreed definition is more elusive than ever. This compromises the ability to pursue meaningful research programs, communicate practical policy advice, and instruct future generations. Why is an agreed definition so elusive and how can this challenge be overcome? The author contends that the definition of the term ‘middle power’ has evolved to be less about discovering either ‘the meaning of a word’ or ‘th

Abstract What should happen to a concept as it loses real-world application? The concept of ‘middle power’ rose to prominence in the mid-20 th century, establishing an influential practitioner–scholarly nexus over the next several decades. This prestigious history came at a cost, embedding three core assumptions into the concept: that middle powers are International in focus, Multilateral in method, and Good Citizens in conduct. While there have been significant attempts by scholars to reform th

South Korea in terms of physical, economic, and military capacity is often considered as a middle power. However, such a definition sits uneasily given South Korea’s past foreign policy behavior and its limited success in garnering coalition support for recent initiatives dealing with North Korean issues. Effectively, South Korea is representative of the dichotomy that exists between middle-power classifications based on foreign policy behavior and those based on measurements of capacity. Recogn

Abstract Digital diplomacy is the latest technological advance to push change in diplomatic practice. It relates to the application of digital technologies, including information and communication technologies, software engineering and big data, and artificial intelligence, to the practice of diplomacy. Positioned in the top ranks of connectivity, internet speed, smartphone ownership, and social media usage, South Korea should be a leader in the use of digital technologies in diplomatic practice

Writing against a historical practice that situates the leprosy asylum exclusively within prison-like institutions, this article seeks to show the variation in leprosy asylums, the contingencies of their evolution, and the complexity of their designs, by devoting attention to the characteristics of the leprosy asylum in India from 1886 to 1947, in particular to the model agricultural colony. Drawing upon the travel narratives of Wellesley Bailey, the founder of the Mission to Lepers in India, fo

Timeline Figures Acknowledgements Preface 1. Introduction 2. Dutch Identity and the Influence of Landscape 3. Netherlands' Trade and Commerce 4. Dutch Bookkeeping and the Hanseatic Influence 5. The Dutch East-India Company 6. Accounting for Capital 7. The VOC's General Bookkeeping: Contradictions and Conflict 8. Conclusion Bibliography

The book explores diplomatic style and its use as a means to provide analytical insight into a state’s foreign policy, with a specific focus on South Korea. Diplomatic style attracts scant attention from scholars. It is dismissed as irrelevant in the context of diplomacy’s universalism; misconstrued as a component of foreign policy; alluded to perfunctorily amidst broader considerations of foreign policy; or wholly absented from discussions in which it should comprise an important component. In

Attempts to come to terms with Australia's relationship with South Korea routinely emphasise material dynamics, such as volume and value of trade, military exchange and security cooperation, or formal diplomatic engagement. This study focuses instead on the nuances of persuasive appeal in “stories”, which comprise a key component of the broader narrative of Australia's relationship with South Korea. I undertake a rhetorical analysis of three key stories conveyed at all levels of official foreign

The decision of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) to withdraw from the nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty and to restart its nuclear program frozen under the 1994 Agreed Framework with the United States has sparked international concerns of nuclear arms proliferation and regional concerns of an imminent crisis. This paper outlines the key issues of the current crisis, factors affecting its resolution, policy options and implications for Australia.

Abstract Scholars and practitioners have argued convincingly that there exists a distinct South Korean national style in negotiation. However, recent Free Trade Agreement negotiations between the U.S. and ROK confirm that under certain conditions, national style can be less relevant and quite possibly irrelevant.

The majority of studies on ageing have a domestic focus. However, cross-border effects also warrant attention as these too have substantial economic and public policy implications for Australia. In this research note Jeffrey Robertson looks at some of the possible economic implications for Australia of ageing in key economic partners.