Postwar Reconciliation in Central Europe and East Asia

This book depicts a case study of Polish-German and Korean-Japanese postwar relations and reconciliation processes by identifying similarities in their bilateral experiences and history. The contributions reveal the significance of memory and reconciliation in social sciences, and politics, as well as in cultural studies.

The Cold War in Europe and Asia has lastingly affected the postwar reconciliation processes: Korea and Germany remained divided into two countries, Japan evolved into the closest ally of its past enemy, and Poland, which was among the Allies of World War II, was left under the influence of the Soviet Union. In view of their complicated postwar history, these countries can serve as examples for comparison of the postwar reconciliation processes. This book addresses the case of Central Europe and East Asia regions which suffered from war atrocities and still have to cope with their war experiences. The aim is to identify tools to implement a strategy of rapprochement between past enemies who need to find solutions for their coexistence in the contemporary world.

Autorentext

Olga Barbasiewicz is Assistant Professor at the Institute of Middle and Far East Studies at the Faculty of International and Political Studies at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow (Poland). She received her Ph.D. in Political Sciences.

Inhalt

Reconciliation Northeast Asian community formation Reconciliation through social media Role of non-governmental organisations International norm, political expediency and search for reconciliation Europeanisation of reconciliation Korea Poland Germany Japan Cold War