Chapter I. Overview – “Dokdo: Historical Appraisal And International Justice”

Abstract

This is the first chapter of the book, which provides a broad framework for better appreciation and resolution of the territorial disputes that bedevil the bilateral relationship between the claimants. Recently, groups of scholars have proposed ideas to resolve the Dokdo issue based on their understanding of the nature of the dispute. These proposals can be categorized into the following four approaches: a practical approach which includes the separation of the sovereignty issue from the allocation of maritime zones and other salient issues; an approach which looks to Japanese territorial disputes involving the Kurile and Senkaku Islands to address the Dokdo issue; an approach which emphasizes the U.S. role for resolving the Dokdo issue; and, an approach which stresses the historical background of Japanese colonialism over Korea and its linkage with the Dokdo issue. The chapters in the book are based on the first three approaches. Keywords: Dokdo issue; Japanese colonialism; Korean peninsula