International Studies Compendium Project

Extract

Comment on this article   East Asian countries are experiencing a sea change in the study of ethnicity, nationalism, and migration. These countries contain different levels of ethnic homogeneity. North and South Korea have long been considered among the most ethnically homogeneous nation-states in the world. Similarly in Japan, the Japanese also view themselves as a racially distinct and homogeneous people, despite the historical presence of foreigners and ethnic minorities. The People's Republic of China (PRC) is composed of a patchwork of ethnicities with over 50 state-recognized minority groups. In homogeneous societies like Japan and Korea, political leaders historically constructed a primordial view of their homogeneity based on ancient myths. However, the Japanese belief system of national polity under official nationalism misled the people towards international wars. Ironically, Japanese expansion contributed to the development of Chinese and Korean nationalism during the early twentieth century. Although they have different levels of ethnic homogeneity, China, Korea, and Japan have witnessed a rise in international (and internal) migration over the past three decades. The recent increase of foreign migrant workers and spouses has challenged the dominant perceptions of ethnic homogeneity in Korea and Japan while it further strengthens the bonds of ethnic heterogeneity in ... log in or subscribe to read full text