Rethinking Hegemony and Neutralization in Korea: Multinational Diplomatic Engagements in the Run-Up to the Russo-Japanese War (1903–1904)

Abstract

This article demonstrates that the Russo-Japanese rivalry, far from being just another example of imperialist competition during the Age of Imperialism, can also serve as a useful case study of a diplomatic contest over a periphery between hegemonic powers. During this diplomatic tug-of-war, the Korean peninsula became the focal point of a contest between Japan and Russia. The present study illuminates the interactive processes of major diplomatic engagements between multiple actors through careful use of multi-lingual archives, as well as locates the significant implications of these exchanges for contemporary geopolitical landscapes in the Far East. Ultimately, this research provides an analytical framework for a more in-depth understanding of diplomatic interactions and the impacts of hegemonic struggles in modern Korean history.