Syngman Rhee, David Ben-Gurion, and the United States 公开

Abstract

Abstract
Syngman Rhee, David Ben-Gurion, and the United States
By Matthew Dale Kim
Cold War history is often reduced to two monoliths commanding the allegiance
of Third World countries. In such depictions, Third World leaders occupy only a minor
role in international affairs. In contrast, Tony Smith's "pericentric view" of the Cold War
shifts the focus to these smaller actors. Smith suggests that some American allies
frequently flouted U.S. authority and that, despite their failures to establish democratic
rule and comply with American foreign policy, they drew substantial concessions from
Washington. The purpose of this thesis is twofold. First, it attempts to determine whether
pericentrism aptly describes the relationship that the United States had with South
Korea's Syngman Rhee and Israel's David Ben-Gurion. Second, the thesis examines how
Rhee and Ben-Gurion developed these pericentric relationships.
In order to disprove the notion that Washington dictated Rhee's and Ben-
Gurion's foreign policies and to suggest that pericentrism applies to South Korea and
Israel, the thesis first examines their undemocratic, strong-armed tactics. The thesis then
examines how Rhee and Ben-Gurion flouted American policy during the Korean War and
Suez Crisis respectively. Their questionable tactics and refusal to follow American orders
suggest that they were not simply being "used" by the United States. Moreover, in spite
of their disagreements with Washington, the thesis notes that they drew significant
concessions from the U.S.
The second half of the thesis is devoted to understanding what allowed Rhee and
Ben-Gurion to influence American policy despite their transgressions. The first and
obvious reason is their anti-Communist stance, which motivated the United States to
support them because of the greater Communist threat. Secondly, their regimes fit Fareed
Zakaria's idea of "liberal autocracy" in which founding fathers use strong-armed tactics
to stabilize their regimes in preparation for future democratic rule. Therefore, Washington
overlooked their liberal autocracies, in hopes of a future democracy.
Ultimately, the thesis argues that not all Cold War history is a history of monoliths.
There was a period immediately following 1948 in which junior members of the
international system could play a significant role.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

I. Introduction 1

II. Challenges to Pericentrism 10

III. Pericentrism in South Korea and Israel 15

IV. Reasoning Behind Pericentrism 49

V. Conclusion 68

Bibliography 72

About this Master's Thesis

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School	Laney Graduate School
Degree	MA
Submission	Master's Thesis
Language	English
关键词	Syngman David Rhee Ben-Gurion
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Harbutt, Fraser J, Emory University
Committee Members	Creekmore Jr., Marion, Emory University Streeb, Gordon L, Emory University

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