Divided Nations and Reunification Strategies

Abstract

Contemporary international trends and recent research based upon international integration theo ry suggest a tacit reunification strategy for divided nations. This theory emphasizes the creation of international and domestic background conditions conducive to collaboration and does not recom mend explicit reunification terms. International con ditions favorable to collaboration are ones which reduce ties to cold war patrons and permit more flexible foreign policies. The proliferation of nu clear weapons, polycentric tendencies within alli ance blocs, detente relationships across blocs, and the low profile direction of US foreign policy are international trends that may permit such flexi bility for the divided nations of Germany and Korea. Integration theory postulates that pairs of na tions with similar levels of social, economic, and administrative development are more likely to collaborate, despite different political and cultural values. If one half of a divided nation tacitly matches the development patterns of the other half, then this symmetrical growth strategy cre ates favorable domestic conditions for international collaboration without the explicit cooperation of both halves. One fragment's elite can then readily exploit either international trends or changes in the elite attitudes of the other half, which may provide opportunities for transaction increases or intergovernmental collaboration. A commitment within the divided nations to total reunification has previously led to free- election and coalition-government diplomatic for mulae and to military strategies of national liber ation and negotiations from strength. From a theoretical perspective, a more realistic strategy for the foreseeable future is symmetrical growth aimed at partial reunification, where the fragments retain separate political identities while their citi zens communicate, visit, and trade together.