The Identity of a Nation: Building Upon an Historical Past

Abstract

In the context of a globalizing society, it becomes increasingly difficult to relegate exclusive and specific identities to a certain people or nation. The notions of nation and people do not possess a singular and definitive identity, just as history is not limited to only particular interpretations. Rather, conceptions of nationhood and identity are constantly ruptured, reinterpreted, and re-established. Accordingly, history is often reinterpreted and manipulated as it is intertwined with political and social factors to influence the formation of nationhood and identity. Here, the goal is not merely to determine a more exclusive history which is divorced from such political or social components, but to consider and appreciate the intertwined influences of all factors to discern unique definitions of nationhood and identity. In a similar sense, when investigating nationalism, colonialism, or globalism, it is imperative to acknowledge and involve the historical, political, and social contexts which are involved. In the case of Korea, nationhood and identity are inextricably tied to the external and internal historical, political, and social contexts; in fact, these particular influences allow for the uniqueness of what is currently considered Korean nationhood and identity. The following are bibliographic summaries of works by Gi-Wook Shin, Andre Schmid, Sheila Jager, Michael Robinson, and others in relation to the interpretation of Korean nationhood and, subsequently, Korean identity.