International relations are often discussed within the framework of international politics, such as the U.S.-China confrontation or the Global South, but in polarized societies such as the United States and the Republic of Korea (ROK, South Korea), international relations appear very different depending on the respective political forces. Each political force in the United States has a completely different view of Russia, and each political force in the ROK has a completely different view of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK, North Korea) . The framework of international politics does not dictate the worldview of an actual state.
Even in Asia, each country and region perceive international relations differently depending on its inherent history, ideology, politics, economy, and society. Moreover, international relations will look quite different in countries that have become dictatorships and in countries with polarized societies.
In countries and regions such as Russia, China, the DPRK, and some Southeast Asian countries that have become or are becoming autocracies or dictatorships, such as ‘authoritarianism’ or ‘totalitarianism,’ the inherent logic and political systems have infiltrated society with a worldview that is completely different from liberal democratic view. This worldview creates a view of international relations and defines their foreign policies.
What kind of international relations do societies that are becoming autocratic or dictatorial see? The panel will examine the internal logic of Russia, China, the DPRK and Southeast Asian countries and then present their respective views of international relations. Each of these countries is defined as an ‘authoritarianism’ or ‘totalitarianism,’ but the degree of dictatorship varies considerably. The DPRK is the only ‘totalitarianism' in the world, while the Southeast Asian countries are 'authoritarianism' that do not exercise such strong control over society. Russia has recently begun to tighten its social control, and China is an ‘authoritarianism' that has already tightened its social control to a considerable extent although not to the same extent as the DPRK. The panel will present views of international relations in societies with varying degrees of ‘authoritarianism,’ based on the inherent logic of each.