Shrimp to Whale: South Korea from the Forgotten War to K-Pop

Review\n"This is a book by someone who adores South Korea and has done so since his first trip there as a student. [...] Pacheco Pardo captures the remarkable scope of recent triumphs that give South Korea both agility -- as Moon's diplomacy has shown -- and the affection of a global audience." -- Financial Times\n'With passion, comprehensive depth and a bird's eye view from afar and up close, this is a valuable read for anyone with an intellectual curiosity in South Korea and its remarkable journey, achieving in several decades what has taken others centuries or millennia." -- Eun Mee Kim, President of Ewha Womans University, Seoul\n"Pacheco Pardo offers a wide-ranging, lucidly written history of Korea-one that'll be valuable for specialists and generalists alike. The author tracks South Korea's dizzying and rapid transformation into one of the world's most notable middle powers and regional dynamos-from independence to the Covid-19 pandemic."-- Ankit Panda, author of Kim Jong Un and the Bomb\n"A fluid and informative read. Pacheco Pardo's recounting of Korea's remarkable odyssey is accessible to a general audience, as well as an important contribution to the scholarship in the field. Highly recommended!" -- Victor Cha, author of The Impossible State, and former Director for Asian Affairs, US National Security Council\n"A wonderful introduction to contemporary Korean history. This book shows how a small 'hermit nation' in Northeast Asia has transformed into vibrant, dynamic society. A must-read for those who want to understand Korea today."-- Sung-Hwan Kim, Chairman of the East Asia Foundation, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Korea\n"Pacheco Pardo observes Korea with empathy and admiration, as only a Spaniard might. He understands the profound pain that was inflicted on the Koreans by the civil war and dictatorship that preceded today's feisty democracy. This beautiful account celebrates the uncommon resilience, courage, genius and industry of the Korean people."-- Meredith Woo, East Asian politics expert and President of Sweet Briar College\n"Since the Korean War, Korea has established itself as a "Global Korea". This book introduces Korean politics, economy and democratization, and the global phenomenon K-pop, which have transformed from shrimps to whales. Pacheco Pardo's book will be an insightful guide for the general public as well as experts who seek to gain a deeper understanding of Korea."-- Sang Hyun Lee, President of the Sejong Institute\nSouth Korea has the most remarkable of histories. Born from the ashes of colonialism, partition and a devastating war, back in the 1950s there were real doubts about its survival as an independent state. Yet South Korea did survive, and first became known globally for the export of cheap toys, shoes and clothing. Today, South Korea is a boisterous democracy, a vibrant market economy, a tech powerhouse, and home to the coolest of cultures. In just seventy years, this society has grown from a shrimp into a whale.\nWhat explains this extraordinary transformation? For some, it was ordinary South Koreans who fought to change their country, and still strive to continue shaping it. For others, it was all down to forward-looking political and business leaders, who had the vision that their country would one day be different. Whichever version you prefer, it's clear that, at its core, South Korea's is the story of a people who dreamt big, and saw their dreams coming true.\nThis is the history of South Korea, from its millennia-old roots, through its foundation as a nation-state and economic development under dictatorship, to its present as a rich, free and cool country on the world stage.

Business & Money

Pacheco Pardo, Ramon

Economics

Oxford University Press

South Korea has the most remarkable of histories. Born from the ashes of colonialism, partition and a devastating war, back in the 1950s there were real doubts about its survival as an independent state. Yet South Korea did survive, and first became known globally for the export of cheap toys, shoes and clothing. Today, South Korea is a boisterous democracy, a vibrant market economy, a tech powerhouse, and home to the coolest of cultures. In just seventy years, this society has grown from a shrimp into a whale. What explains this extraordinary transformation? For some, it was ordinary South Koreans who fought to change their country, and still strive to continue shaping it. For others, it was all down to forward-looking political and business leaders, who had the vision that their country would one day be different. Whichever version you prefer, it's clear that, at its core, South Korea's is the story of a people who dreamt big, and saw their dreams coming true. This is the history of South Korea, from its millennia-old roots, through its foundation as a nation-state and economic development under dictatorship, to its present as a rich, free and cool country on the world stage.

Korea: A New History of South and North

A major new history of North and South Korea, from the late nineteenth century to the present day &nbsp; Korea has a long, riveting history--it is also a divided nation. South Korea is a vibrant democracy, the tenth largest economy, and is home to a world-renowned culture. North Korea is ruled by the most authoritarian regime in the world, a poor country in a rich region, and is best known for the cult of personality surrounding the ruling Kim family. But both Koreas share a unique common history. &nbsp; Victor Cha and Ramon Pacheco Pardo draw on decades of research to explore the history of modern Korea, from the late nineteenth century, Japanese occupation, and Cold War division to the present day. A small country caught amongst the world's largest powers--including China, Japan, Russia, and the United States--Korea's fate has been closely connected to its geography and the strength of its leadership and society. This comprehensive history sheds light on the evolving identities of the two Koreas, explaining the sharp differences between North and South, and prospects for unification.

History

Cha, Victor

Asia

Yale University Press

North Korea - US Relations: From Kim Jong Il to Kim Jong Un (Routledge Studies in US Foreign Policy)

How has North Korea sought to normalize diplomatic relations with the US? Explaining the continuities between the Kim Jong-un and Kim Jong-il governments, as well as the discontinuities, especially the decisive move towards brinkmanship under Kim Jong-un culminating in 2017 and subsequent turn towards diplomacy, this book shows how North Korea has constantly learnt from its own experience and the experience of others to evolve and adapt its policy towards the US. This fully revised and expanded second edition draws on interviews and conversations with American, North and South Korean, Chinese and other countries’ policy-makers and experts and North Korean official media stories. It has been updated to include discussion of the post-2012 period when Kim Jong-un replaced his father to become the leader of North Korea, and provides detailed analysis of both presidencies, concluding with a study of the two bilateral summits held with President Donald Trump. Showing how weaker powers can try to achieve their main foreign policy goals with respect to great powers, this book will be of interest to scholars and students of the international relations of East Asia, US Foreign Policy, Korean Studies and Foreign Policy Analysis. It should also prove relevant to those studying international bargaining and negotiation.

Reference

Routledge

How has North Korea sought to normalize diplomatic relations with the US? Explaining the continuities between the Kim Jong-un and Kim Jong-il governments, as well as the discontinuities, especially the decisive move towards brinkmanship under Kim Jong-un culminating in 2017 and subsequent turn towards diplomacy, this book shows how North Korea has constantly learnt from its own experience and the experience of others to evolve and adapt its policy towards the US.\nThis fully revised and expanded second edition draws on interviews and conversations with American, North and South Korean, Chinese and other countries’ policy-makers and experts and North Korean official media stories. It has been updated to include discussion of the post-2012 period when Kim Jong-un replaced his father to become the leader of North Korea, and provides detailed analysis of both presidencies, concluding with a study of the two bilateral summits held with President Donald Trump.\nShowing how weaker powers can try to achieve their main foreign policy goals with respect to great powers, this book will be of interest to scholars and students of the international relations of East Asia, US Foreign Policy, Korean Studies and Foreign Policy Analysis. It should also prove relevant to those studying international bargaining and negotiation.

An Analysis of Robert O. Keohane's After Hegemony (The Macat Library)

Robert O. Keohane’s After Hegemony is both a classic of international relations scholarship and an example of how creative thinking can help shed new light on the world.  Since the end of World War II, the global political landscape had been dominated by two superpowers, the USA and the USSR, and the tense stand-off of the Cold War. But, as the Cold War began to thaw, it became clear that a new global model might emerge. The commonly held belief amongst those studying international relations was that it was impossible for nations to work together without the influence of a hegemon (a dominant international power) to act as both referee and ultimate decision-maker. This paradigm – neorealism – worked on the basis that every nation will do all it can to maximize its power, with such processes only checked by a balance of competing powers.  Keohane, however, examined the evidence afresh and came up with novel explanations for what was likely to come next. He went outside the dominant paradigm, and argued for what came to be known as the neoliberal conception of international politics.  States, Keohane said, can and will cooperate without the influence of a hegemonic power, so long as doing so brings them absolute gains in the shape of economic and cultural benefits. In Keohane’s highly-creative view, the pursuit of national self-interest leads naturally to international cooperation – and to the formation of global regimes (such as the United Nations) that can reinforce and foster it.

Arts & Photography

Macat Library

Sun Tzu's The Art of War is a series of lessons in the applied art of problem solving. Sun (544 BC-496 BC), an experienced general from the Warring States period of Chinese history, saw war as an inevitable problem - indeed, the ultimate problem confronting the state. The Art of War summarises his lessons on how to solve the problems raised by conflict. The work comprises a series of pithy discussions of the different strategic situations that might arise, and the best responses for each. In many ways it is a masterclass in the application of critical thinking to practical affairs. Aspiring generals are advised to 'appraise the situation' according to five separate criteria, and to plan accordingly. 'The expert at battle seeks his victory from strategic advantage', Sun writes, so every general must assess their situation from every angle, and establish not only the best way to give themselves the strategic advantage - but also of preventing the other side from giving itself the advantage. Throughout the text, Sun epitomises the qualities of a good problem solver by focusing on the nature of the problem; asking productive questions about it; and making sound decisions.

The Art of War (The Macat Library)

Literature & Fiction

History & Criticism

Macat

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Pacheco Pardo, Ramon. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Pacheco Pardo, Ramon

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Pacheco Pardo, Ramon. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Shrimp to Whale: South Korea from the Forgotten War to K-Pop

Shrimp to Whale: South Korea from the Forgotten War to K-Pop

Korea: A New History of South and North

Korea: A New History of South and North

North Korea - US Relations: From Kim Jong Il to Kim Jong Un (Routledge Studies in US Foreign Policy)

North Korea - US Relations: From Kim Jong Il to Kim Jong Un (Routledge Studies in US Foreign Policy)

An Analysis of Robert O. Keohane's After Hegemony (The Macat Library)

The Art of War (The Macat Library)

An Analysis of Robert O. Keohane's After Hegemony (The Macat Library)