Fall 2008 The Asian Connection Issue 4

The Sigur Center for Asian Studies, The Elliott School of International Affairs

In This Edition: Message from the Directors Message from the Directors

Brigham Young University. will continue our active Welcome to the new Major Events schedule (last year the academic year at the Sigur We want to thank him for his Center accounted for Center for Asian Studies. able stewardship of the India Initiative Center and enormous nearly a quarter of the Elliott This newsletter brings you up contributions to students in School’s events) and also Friends of India and Korea to date on the Center’s Asian Studies. Shawn work to strengthen two new Studies activities and some of the McHale, professor of efforts launched last year: key accomplishments of our our India Initiative and Lecture Series faculty and students during Southeast Asian history, Korea Outreach. Spring and Summer 2008. returns as Director after a Korea-America Student year’s sabbatical in Shawn McHale, Director, & Conference We bid farewell to Kirk Vietnam. Deepa Ollapally, Associate Larsen as Director of the In the upcoming year, we Director Professor Profile Center, who left to join

Student Spotlight

Featured Alumnus Major Events

GW President’s meeting During Spring and elections in Taiwan with a The Sigur Center co-hosted with Korean President Summer, the Sigur Center conference and roundtable a conference on “Korean held 34 events, attracting supported by the Taipei The POSCO NGO Fellows Security Relationships Past an audience of 1,280. Economic and Cultural and Future” with the Program Some highlights include: Representative Office. National Security Archive, Language Tea Times sponsored by the Korea The conference looked at Conference on Foundation and the Japan the domestic and Sigur-Affiliated Programs Celebrated Korean Foundation Center for international implications of Alumnus Global Partnership. Six the elections, and featured A View from Vietnam papers were presented on In May, the Sigur Center, GW professors Harry Harding topics ranging from Russian Notes on Faculty & with generous support and Robert Sutter, as well as Students and North Korean relations from the Korea Shelley Rigger (Davidson to an examination of the Foundation, held a College) and Hans Stockton future of U.S.-Japan-South conference on Philip Jai- (University of St. Thomas). Korea trilateral security sohn (So Chae-p’il), a cooperation. noted Korean reformer, This event was followed in June by a roundtable activist and GW alum. He Annual Gaston Sigur entitled “The Winds of was the first Korean to Memorial Lecture receive a medical Change: An Early degree in the U.S. The Assessment of the Ma This year’s 12th Annual event coincided with the Administration,” with GW Gaston Sigur Memorial unveiling of his statue at Professor Robert Sutter, Lecture was delivered by the Korean Embassy in Elizabeth Larus (University of Susan L. Shirk, University of Washington, D.C. Mary Washington) and California, San Diego. She Steven Phillips (Towson Professor Shelley Rigger of spoke on “The Foreign Policy Taiwan Presidential University). Davidson College speaks at “The Implications of China’s Election Series Taiwan Presidential Election: Political Fragility” based on Korean Security Relations Domestic, Regional and her book, China: Fragile During the spring Conference International Implications” on Superpower, to a large semester, the Sigur Center crowd from the D.C. area. March 26. examined the presidential

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India Initiative

The Sigur Center continued In April, the Sigur Center for India,” with Geeta Rao to promote its India partnered with the Asia Gupta, President of the Initiative through a series of Society to present “A International Center for special events sponsored Dhrupad Concert by the Research on Women. by the Initiative. Dagar Ensemble.” The The second, co-sponsored vocalist for the group, Ustad by the U.S.-India Business The first in the spring was a F. Wasifuddin Dagar, is the Alliance, was entitled keynote lecture on March 20th generation of his family “Fighting Corruption in 12, titled “Reflections on to practice this type of India: An Insider Account of U.S.-India Relations” by classical Indian music. Ambassador Ronen Sen of Government Responses.” India. It was followed by a The event was made The talk was given by panel with commentaries possible by the generous Madras Sivaraman, the on the U.S. presidential support of Rama and Arun former Permanent election and its Deva and Shabnam Arora. Secretary for India’s Ministry implications for India. It was attended by more of Finance, responsible for Ambassador Ronen Sen (L) listens Amb. Karl F. Inderfurth of than 200 people. India all taxation departments, to Ashley Tellis of the Carnegie GW and Ashley Tellis of the Initiative members and revenue, and customs Endowment (R) at “Reflections on Carnegie Endowment other guests attended a intelligence. U.S.-India Relations” on March 12. respectively put forth a private reception Both of these lectures were Democratic and sponsored by the Embassy well-attended and served Republican perspective. of India prior to the to increase the focus on concert. The luncheon event was India at the Sigur Center as attended by over 130, The India Initiative also well as expand the including many business sponsored two Brown Bag Center’s outreach to the and community leaders, lectures within the Sigur Indian community with and the story made Center’s Subnational Asia important, timely topics. headlines in nearly all major lecture series. The first was

Indian newspapers. “HIV/AIDS & the Challenges

Friends of India and Korea Studies

The Sigur Center is inviting On Korea, our goal is to of U.S.-India relations and membership in two new continue enhancing the U.S. foreign policy on the groups: Friends of the India Sigur Center’s reputation as subcontinent. This initiative is Initiative and Friends of one of the country’s leading being directed by Professors Korea Studies. The Friends policy research forums on Deepa Ollapally and Karl F. groups are designed to contemporary Korea as well Inderfurth. draw in high level business, as increase the Center’s community, NGO, support for Korean studies To make a contribution to Dean Michael Brown of the Elliott academic, and government throughout the University. either program, please go to School attends the March 12th leaders with special briefings Professor Young-Key Kim- https://www.gwu.edu/onlin India Initiative event with and networking events. You Renaud (see Professor e_giving/ and be sure to Ambassador Ronen Sen, along may read more about these Profile) is taking a lead role select "Other" for the gift with a large audience of over 130 groups at in this effort. designation and type "India people. www.gwu.edu/~sigur/indiain Initiative - Sigur Center for

itiative.html and On India, we want to build a Asian Studies” or “Friends of www.gwu.edu/~sigur/friends program that places the Korea- Sigur Center for Asian ofkorea.html Sigur Center at the forefront Studies.” of scholarship and analysis

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Lecture Series

Throughout Spring 2008, we Korea: Confronting Massacres “Trapped in a Vise: Taiwan’s continued our lecture series on during the Korean War,” Kim Struggle for International Transnational and Subnational Dong-Chon, Truth & Space,” Christopher Griffin, Asia. The Center also Reconciliation Commission, American Enterprise Institute continued a new series called ROK the Taiwan Forum, and a series “Identity Politics in China and of roundtables by our resident “Does China Have an Energy Taiwan and Implications for visiting scholars. Diplomacy?: Reflections on Cross-Strait Relations,” Stephen China’s Energy Security and Yates, DC Asia Advisory, LLC Transnational and Subnational its Impact on Foreign Policy,” Asia Linda Jakobson, Finnish Visiting Scholar Roundtables Institute of International Affairs

“Security, Identity and the Rise “A Conceptual Framework for of China,” William Callahan, Taiwan Forum Reconciliation in International Professor Susan Shirk of the University of Manchester Relations,” Seung-hoon Heo, University of California speaking at “Chinese Views of Taiwan’s Graduate Institute of the Annual Sigur Memorial Lecture “Fresh Impressions & Prospects Elections,” Bonnie Glaser, International & Development on April 8th. for Afghanistan,” Ahmad Center for Strategic and Studies, Geneva, Switzerland

Nader Nadery, Afghan International Studies Independent Human Rights “A Model for East Asian Civil Commission “Electoral Interdependence Society in Reconciling History- Among Taipei, Beijing and Related Conflicts,” Mikang “Elite Politics and Inflation in Washington: The Security Yang, Asia Peace and History China: Past and Present,” Implications,” David Michael Education Network, South Victor Shih, Northwestern Lampton, Johns Hopkins Korea University School of Advanced International Studies “U.S. Renewable Energy Policy “Economic Reforms & at the Crossroads,” Sanghoon Democracy in Nepal,” Prem “U.S.-Taiwan Relations in the Lee, Korean Federation for Khanal, The Kathmandu Post Aftermath of the Taiwan Environmental Movements, Election,” Randall Schriver, South Korea “The Truth & Reconciliation Armitage International Commission in the Republic of

Korea-America Student Conference

In July, the Sigur Center co- This month-long experience conference was “A New sponsored the first Korea- was modeled after the Look at the U.S.-Korea America Student long-standing Japan- Alliance,” and panels Conference along with America Student looked at international Brown University, the Conference. Forty students issues, North Korea, Institute of East Asian from the U.S. and South technology, and security Studies and the Center for Korea traveled to the four challenges. Speakers Korean Studies at University sponsor schools and included former National Victor Cha, former National of California, Berkeley, and participated in academic Security Council Asia Security Council Director, the Howard Baker Center roundtable discussions, Director Victor Cha and speaking to the students at the for Public Policy at the cultural and social events, Ambassador Tom Hubbard. Korean American Student University of Tennessee. This and visits to business Conference at the Elliott School. effort was organized by enterprises. More information about the International Student conference can be found Conferences. The theme of the at www.iscdc.org.

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Professor Profile

Young-key Kim-Renaud, women who played a both research and

Professor of Korean Language profound role in Korea’s teaching as fundamental and Culture and International modernization. for any professor at the Affairs, currently serves as the college level. Chair of the East Asian When describing her Languages and Literatures scholarly activities, Professor After more than three Department. She is a leading Kim-Renaud says, “Whether I decades, Kim-Renaud’s expert on Korean language do linguistic, literary, or Ph.D. dissertation on cultural research, I am Korean phonology remains and linguistics. Young-key Kim-Renaud, Professor excited to think about and one of the most frequently of Korean Language and Culture Her most recent work is a find answers to hitherto quoted works in Korean and International Affairs, in front of grammar reference of Korean unquestioned or linguistics. Her edited the Kennedy Center. for both a general audience unanswered issues, or to volume entitled The Korean and linguists. She is also challenge conventional Alphabet: Its History and working on a major chapter wisdom. I am also stimulated Structure is considered a “I have devoted my on Modern Korean as part of when researching new classic among texts on life to trying to an edited volume on things because I feel I can writing systems. understand and Japanese and Korean test my current hypotheses linguistics. Her paper on the and explanations as they Professor Kim-Renaud is the analyze Korean vowel system and the Vowel are put in a broader executive editor of Korean language and culture Harmony phenomenon in 15th context.” Linguistics, the scholarly century Korean will be journal of the International in a broader context. presented as a keynote As head of the EALL Circle of Korean Linguistics. In the process, I have Department, Kim-Renaud She has been honored by speech at the inaugural discovered that the conference of Scripta, a states, “I strive, and the Republic of Korea with journal on writing systems. In encourage others also, to its Order of Cultural Merit, deeper I study Korea- addition, Professor Kim- be the best professionals we Jade Class. specific issues and Renaud is writing a book on can be.” She emphasizes problems, the more universal they have Student Spotlight become.” –Professor Young-key Kim- Jana Kosarkova is an MA States, Japan, the E.U. and She notes, “I have candidate in the Asian other allied countries. benefited greatly from this Renaud Studies program. She came Kosarkova’s interest in experience, particularly

to the Elliott School from security was piqued by her with respect to the the Czech Republic with a position as Development traditional characters of the Masters degree in Chinese Manager of the Prague language and the Philology from the Security Studies Institute. opportunity to speak and Department of Asian Her studies at the Elliott correspond with new Studies at Palacky School have focused on Taiwanese friends and University, one of the Czech the security dimensions of colleagues on a day-to- Republic’s leading the Asia-Pacific region. day basis in this exotic and academic institutions. wonderful locale. I have This spring, Kosarkova also learned to cope with Jana Kosarkova, an MA Although she remains received a grant from the intense heat, humidity and candidate in the Asian Studies fascinated by the diverse Sigur Center to pursue her almost daily rain showers!” program, with a friend in front of cultures and history of the study of Mandarin at the the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall region, she is mainly Mandarin Training Center Kosarkova will complete in Taipei, Taiwan. interested in the security at National Taiwan Normal her degree in the spring of challenges emerging from University during the 2009. East Asia for the United summer.

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Featured Alumnus

Center, spending hours in James Reilly (Ph.D., Political In 2007, Reilly was awarded Science, 2008), is currently a Fulbright-Hays the China reading room a post-doctoral research Dissertation Research puzzling through Chinese associate at Oxford Grant. During that period, academic and policy

University in both the he was based at Renmin journals. I benefitted

greatly from access to departments of Politics and University in China while he International Relations and conducted the research to summer research funds History. Reilly wrote his complete his dissertation. provided through the Sigur dissertation on “The Role of Center, which offered me Public Opinion in China’s During his time at GW, Reilly an invaluable opportunity Japan Policy: 1997-2007.” served as a graduate to begin my research on teaching fellow for the China’s ‘history activists’ Throughout the time he was Political Science and their role in China-

a graduate student in Department, a graduate Japan relations.” political science, Reilly kept research fellow for Professor his foot in the real world— Mike Mochizuki, and was Reilly has already written a James Reilly shaking hands with his from 2001 to 2007, Reilly awarded a Sigur Center number of journal articles North Korean counterpart over the th was the East Asia Summer Field Research and book chapters, 38 parallel during one of his trips Representative for the Grant in 2004. He worked collaborating with GW’s there as East Asia Representative for American Friends Service with several Sigur faculty, Professor Yang on a the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), a including Professors David chapter entitled “Chinese Committee. Quaker organization. He Shambaugh and Bruce Perspectives on Memory made history by opening Dickson. He continues to and Reconciliation with their first office in China work closely with Professors Japan,” in a book Yang since 1949. With the AFSC, Mochizuki and Daqing and Mochizuki are editing, Reilly led programs on Yang as a consultant to as well as with Bates Gill on engagement with North their Memory and an article entitled “The Korea, regional security, Reconciliation in the Asia- Tenuous Hold of China, Inc. China-Africa relations and Pacific Project. in Africa,” which appeared rural-to urban migration in in China. He also took five U.S. About his tenure at GW, in the summer of 2007. delegations to North Korea. Reilly says, “I spent a great deal of time at the Sigur

President Attends Korean Inauguration

In February, University second trip to South Korea alumni, including Syngman President since he became president Rhee, the first president of traveled to South Korea to last year. The first took Korea, and Philip Jai-sohn, attend the inauguration of place in December 2007. a well-known Korean

Lee Myung-bak as reformer. Kirk Larsen, former Director of the President of South Korea. In addition to celebrating Sigur Center (second from left) at Lee was a visiting scholar at President Lee’s South Korea also has the the unveiling of the statue of Philip GW in 1999. President inauguration, Knapp also largest GW alumni network Jai-sohn outside the Korean Knapp had the opportunity utilized the trip to outside of North America. Embassy in Washington, D.C. to congratulate President strengthen GW’s long- The second largest Lee and invite him to visit standing relationship with contingent of foreign The George Washington South Korea. students in the Elliott University. School’s entering MA class GW has had a number of this year comes from Korea This was President Knapp’s distinguished South Korean (after China).

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The POSCO NGO Fellow Program

This September marks the conducting research on Besides the fellows, the third year of partnership the existence of POSCO Foundation also between the Sigur Center antagonism against sponsors a yearly for Asian Studies and the migrants and the activities conference. This year’s was POSCO T.J. Park Foundation of migrant advocacy held at the University of NGO Fellow Program. NGOs to reduce it in the British Columbia. The first United States. Ms. Jung will took place at the Sigur This program brings be exploring ways for Center in April, 2007. members of South Korean women’s cooperation The 2007 conference non-governmental among South Korea, North focused on “Korean NGO organizations to the United Korea, and the United Activities and Perspectives: States and Canada to do States to help the peace Peace, Human Rights, and research as fellows at building process on the Civic Participation.” Each various universities, Korean Peninsula. including GW. The POSCO NGO Fellow from program is administered by The 2007 scholars included the five universities spoke Stanford University. Sanghoon Lee, who on a panel. Discussants researched the included John Feffer, the The POSCO NGO Fellow determinants of national International Relations Program aims to increase energy policy changes in Center, Laureen the interaction between the U.S., and Mikang Yang, Laglagaron, Migration members of the American, who examined a civil Policy Institute, and Nigina Canadian and Korean society cooperation model Bakhrieva, National NGO communities. GW for reconciling history in Endowment for forms part of a consortium East Asia. Democracy. that includes Stanford University, Columbia The first fellows housed at This year’s conference was University, Indiana the Sigur Center were held on May 1, and was University, and the Woosik Cheong and Ilpyo titled “Civil Society in North University of British Hong. Mr. Cheong looked America: Lessons Learned.” Columbia. at pathways to normalize It featured papers from all relations between North 10 POSCO NGO fellows in Every year, the Sigur Center Korea and the United the United States and hosts two fellows from States, and Mr. Hong Canada, including the different Korean NGOs. The examined policy formation Sigur Center’s Sanghoon incoming fellows are in American think tanks and Lee and Mikang Yang. Hyunmo Choi and Gyung NGOs. Lan Jung. Mr. Choi will be

Language Tea Times GW students Jane Lee (left), Jaime Oberlander (middle), Eunmi

Kim (right), and Linda Yarr of the Thanks to greater demand, opportunity to practice not only on that week’s Program for International Studies the Sigur Center for Asian their language skills, meet language but also on other in Asia (back) enjoy Korean food Studies stepped up its with other students who skills such as calligraphy. at a Korean Language Tea Time. Language Tea Times in the study the same language,

Spring, holding them and work with native The Language Tea Times weekly. Each week speakers on improving their serve as good preparation featured Chinese, skills, especially visiting for the language exit exam Japanese, or Korean. scholars at the Center. that every Asian Studies M.A. student must pass in Attendees were given the Some meetings focused order to graduate.

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Sigur-Affiliated Programs China Policy Program (CPP) The conference volume was attendance by leading

members of the Taiwanese- co-edited by Professor David David Shambaugh, Director of Shambaugh and is available American community. the CPP, led the Second at: http://www.swp- Washington Think Tanks China berlin.org/en/produkte/swp_st Legislative Exchange Specialists Delegation to udie.php?id=9218&PHPSESSID Program (LEP) Beijing at the invitation of =5822eb4aa6d456dcdbf59a6 China’s Ministry of Foreign In January 2008 the U.S.- c0ee4bbb1 Japan LEP completed its Affairs and Chinese People’s 38th session, and the U.S.- Institute of Foreign Affairs in Taiwan Education & Research June 2008. Delegation Program (TERP) Japan-South Korea Trilateral members came from GW, LEP held its 7th session in Professor David Shambaugh

Georgetown, CSIS, Brookings, In April, TERP co-sponsored Tokyo, Japan. The 39th U.S.- outside Beijing National Stadium

Japan LEP meeting in May the Woodrow Wilson Center with the at the Beijing Olympics in August. and the Carnegie opening of a new collection 2008 was postponed Endowment. of Taiwanese opposition because of a pending journals with an event entitled government crisis in Tokyo.

In February 2008, in partnership “Printing Democracy: Nevertheless, the 8th TLEP

with the German Institute of between South Korean and Taiwan’s Tang-wai Opposition International & Security Affairs, Journals.” Speakers included U.S. members took place on the CPP organized the former journalists and a senior May 1. The principle topics conference “Transatlantic Taiwanese government were the new Korean policy

Dialogue on China: official. The event and towards North Korea and

Deepening the Cooperation.” the FTA. reception that followed saw

A View from Vietnam by Professor Shawn McHale

After stepping down as Today, despite recent invested in everything from Director of the Sigur Center economic turmoil, Vietnam is factories to high-rise hotels. in August 2007, I accepted still an investment magnet – Vietnam is integrating to an a Fulbright-Hays fellowship foreign direct investment there extent not experienced ten to work in Vietnam. My year rivals that of India. And the years ago, but it is an Asian- abroad drove home an lion’s share of that investment inflected process. Asian important lesson. Asia is is flowing into one place – the influences shape everything (obviously) integrating and area in and around Ho Chi from musical tastes to clothing globalizing, but the view on Minh City. That region is styles. Integration and the ground in Asia often changing before our eyes. globalization bring prosperity. differs from that in Yet rapid change is also Today, Ho Chi Minh City Washington. Nowhere is that leading to social dislocation, absorbs hundreds of Sigur Center Director Shawn lesson clearer than in Ho Chi worsening inequality, and new thousands of new arrivals each Minh City (Saigon). challenges – such as traffic McHale in a boat along the year, mostly Vietnamese from jams. Mekong River in Vietnam during When I first arrived in the northern and central parts his sabbatical there from 2007- Vietnam in 1989, the country of Vietnam. Among This experience abroad 2008. was cut off from the rest of expatriates, Asians reminded me forcefully of how Asia. Vietnam, one of the predominate. Singaporeans, dynamic Asia can be – and of poorest countries in the Taiwanese, and Japanese can the important role the Sigur world, had no relations with be found. Most noticeable Center can play in helping us the United States. are the large numbers of understand this “great Koreans, who have transformation.”

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Notes on Faculty & Students

Recent Books Grants Honors

Wealth into Power: The The Sigur Center’s annual Elliott School Professor Karl Communist Party’s summer grants were F. Inderfurth was made a Embrace of China’s Private distributed in the spring. The trustee of the Asia Sector (Cambridge Taiwan Language Grant Foundation in March of University Press, 2008) Bruce was given to Alexander 2008. The Asia Foundation is Dickson, Professor of Hart, Jana Kosarkova, and the premier non-profit Political Science and Lance Noble. The Korean organization devoted to International Affairs Language Grant went to Asia’s development since We’re on the web! Harold Olsen and Courtney 1954. The Politics of Extremism in Rowland. Field Research Visit us at: www.gwu.edu/~sigur/ South Asia (Cambridge Grants were given to Colm GW Alumna Suzanne

University Press, 2008) Fox, Jeffrey Hornung, and Basalla, who earned her Deepa Ollapally, Diana Xiong. M.A. in Asian Studies from Professorial Lecturer and the Elliott School, was Associate Director, Sigur Faculty research grants honored with the first

Center. went to Alasdair Bowie, Ambassador and Mrs. Gregg Brazinsky, Bruce Ryozo Kato Award for her China’s Communist Party: Dickson, Joel Kuipers, important contributions to Atrophy and Adaptation, Shawn McHale, David U.S.-Japan relations. The (University of California Shambaugh, Robert Kato Award was Press, 2008) David Shepherd, Ronald Spector, established by a Shambaugh, Professor of Janet Steele, Emmanuel consortium of U.S. research Political Science and Teitelbaum, Jiawen Yang, institutes (CSIS, Brookings, International Affairs and Daqing Yang. CFR, Stimson, and the Support the Sigur Center for New American Center! Visit our Traditions, Treaties & Trade: The Foreign Area Security). Ms. Basalla home page to make Qing Imperialism & Choson Language Studies Grant for currently works for the your gift to support Korea, 1850-1910 (Harvard the academic year went to Department of Defense. University Asia Center Press, Eric Concha, Matthew student scholarships 2008), Kirk Larsen, Korea Hallowell and Christin and core activities. Foundation Associate Kjelland. Professor of History & International Affairs Jane Lee won a Fulbright scholarship to teach English Other Publications in Korea. Edited by: To see the list of other Alumni Relations publications from Sigur faculty, please visit: Elliott School Dean Michael Deepa Ollapally &

Brown visited Tokyo, Seoul, Erin Robinson http://www.gwu.edu/ and Hong Kong in February, ~elliott/research/ meeting with alumni and Dean Michael Brown (front left) publications.cfm. representatives of our along with the Sigur Center’s partner universities. He Ikuko Turner (back left) and the

gave talks at Waseda Elliott School’s Kelly McCaskill University, Ewha Women’s (2nd from right) in Japan meeting University, and the with representatives of Waseda University of Hong Kong. University.