So far, in our study of reconciliation, it seems to me that we can infer at least seven general points about building strategies for reconciliation between and among sovereign states:
1. Reconciliation is a process --- there are no final “solutions” to the problems of cooperation. This is a point that Tomoko Akami made early on in the August 2006 workshop at the ANU. Building cooperation between sovereign states is a full-time, continuous job.
2. Seize the time. Trying to build cooperation among states is never easy, and one thing is clear: when conditions are good --- for whatever reasons --- take advantage of that opportunity to build as much cooperation as possible because, inevitably, times will change.
3. Insist on reciprocity. For example, an apology made for war crimes of the past should be given on the condition that it will be accepted by the other party, and the problem thereby put to rest.
4. Link the past, to the present, to the future. The joint historical study project recently agreed upon by the Japanese and Chinese governments, with the first meeting planned for next month, is an excellent beginning; but when the conclusions of that study are announced, they should be linked to specific plans in the present about what the two governments are prepared to do for the future to build cooperation between the two countries.
5. Build on projects of substantial mutual material benefit. The East China Sea provides an ideal opportunity. Competing territorial claims between China and Japan in that region may result in confrontation or even military conflict; but if those competing claims can be put to the side for the moment and arrangements for joint exploitation of the energy resources agreed upon, the mutual material benefit from such a project can help establish a solid foundation for cooperation into the future.
6. Teach “opportunity cost,” especially in the training of future foreign-affairs and defense officials. Wikipedia defines opportunity cost as “the cost of something in terms of an opportunity forgone (and the benefits that could be received from that opportunity), the most valuable forgone alternative.” The main point here is that, whereas those officials most responsible for our security and foreign relations are typically trained to think in terms of worst-possible-case scenarios (as they should, so that they have the best chance of anticipating dangers to our country), they should equally be taught to think about the “opportunity cost” of failing to cooperate with other countries to achieve mutual benefit.
7. Identify linkages across different fields and categories. Cooperation should be built across a broad base of economic, cultural, political, strategic, and military connections. For example, when economic relations are booming and political relations are sour, try to shape better political policies based on economic initiatives. Link so-called Track I, II, and III activities. To borrow from former US Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick, create "stakeholders" in cooperation across the board.
I would like to suggest two more strategies that might be useful in building reconciliation.
ReplyDeletePreemptive Peace – Where there is agreement that a specific situation has the potential to lead to a unanimously undesirable outcome, this concept should be employed, and with urgency. The lack of military and governmental communication in the East China Sea seems to fit the bill. At the workshop, there was recognition across the board regarding the volatility of the situation. Mentioned was the absence of a hotline and network between top leaders; the lack of a code of conduct for military and scientific research; the lack of concrete plans to control disputes; and the dangers of nationalistic sentiments complicating an accidental incident. Several concluded their remarks by agreeing that ‘ it is a very dangerous situation.’ On the coattails of Professor Van Ness’s remarks about seizing the time, perhaps the conditions are there for preemptive peace, which needs to happen in time.
Environmental Cooperation as Common Ground – If there is one issue that transcends geopolitical boundaries, to which we are all complicit, and in which we all share a stake in addressing, it is the environmental crisis facing us this century. Much is already being done to mitigate environmental problems, among nations, international NGOs, and domestic civil society groups. These efforts could be multiplied many times over without running out of work to be done, and can provide a galvanizing sense of regional and global citizenship. Cooperation on environmental issues is in everybody's best interests.
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ReplyDeleteRe: point #3, insist on reciprocity. It is no-starter. An apology is for past wrongs. It cann't be used for future bargains because the whole purpose of apology is to admit that you did something bad in the past. It is for one's own moral cleansing. Now you want to use it as a bargaining chip. It is absurd.
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ReplyDeleteA Note to Readers. You may wonder why there are so many deleted comments on this particular post. The reason is that we are being attacked with SPAM (advertisements for viagra, etc.), and I have deleted them one by one. But I have not deleted --- and will not delete --- any substantive comments. So please continue to comment on the various postings. We welcome your comments.
ReplyDeletePete Van Ness
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ReplyDeleteDr. Van Ness,
ReplyDeleteI met you at TUFS a few months ago. Thank you again for coming to speak with us and I have really began to focus on reconciliation as a main point in my thesis.
I went to a conference yesterday, (Parliamentarians for Global Action)and there were parliamentarians from all over the 'developing world' but no representatives from other Asian states. I was disappointed because the goverence was focusing on reconciliation, human security and the ICC.
One speaker however made a point that I feel is extremely relevant to the current situation in East Asia, "Reconciliation without truth, without recognition of memory is not possible." (translated from Spanish)
I think that the 7 items that you have listed are an excellent starting point. However, as long as Japan refuses to recognize or take responsibility for the atrocities that it committed and China and Korea continue to preach and in some cases exaggerate these atrocities for nationalitic purposes, the truth and therefore reconcilitation will be left unknown and impossible to achieve.
This perhaps falls with #1 and #4 of your 7 ideas, but a program needs to begin which addresses the events that occurred during the Sino-Japanese war, Korean colinization and WWII. Perhaps the historical study will do this, but unless Japan is willing to take responsibility and change textbooks and China is willing to avoid focusing so much on just Japanese atrocities while forgetting their own, the truth study will not accomplish anything.
It is unfortunate that the relations of East Asia are tangled in such an unending web.
I think that it must have been Shogo Suzuki who recommended that I read Elazar Barkan and Alexander Karn (eds.), Taking Wrongs Seriously: Apologies and Reconciliation (Stanford UP, 2006). I have just started reading it, and it is excellent for anyone interested in reconciliation. It will change my thinking about the above post on "Strategies."
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