Narratives and International Reconciliation

Abstract

AbstractIn relations between Japan and South Korea, as well as between other former adversaries, observers frequently argue that “history stands in the way” of better relations. They expect that hostile historical narratives will prevent leaders from pursuing potentially advantageous cooperation. To evaluate this claim, in this article I define narratives and their elements, noting that they range from more hostile to more friendly. I outline and theoretically develop two perspectives: the view of history as an obstacle, and a view more optimistic about the potential for cooperation and narrative transformation. Evidence from Franco-German relations after World War II, as well as other cases across time and space, supports the latter, more optimistic, view. Finally, I hypothesize different strategic and domestic conditions that make cooperation and narrative change more or less likely. Ultimately, I argue that observers have exaggerated the constraining power of narratives and thus underestimated the potential for cooperation between former enemies. This has important implications for relations between longtime rivals all over the world, and particularly in East Asia, where a conventional wisdom expects historical memories to impede balancing against China's rise.