Research On Robert Scalapino’s Study Of Notrheast Asia

Robert Scalapino was an American famous Asia expert, who had influencedseveral generations of Chinese and Western historians of Northeast Asia. Hislong-term research in China and Japan, the Korean peninsula and the Asianinternational relations, particularly in Northeast Asia have unique insights.Scalapino’s research paradigm focused on the fifties or sixties of the20th century andearly21st century, and his academic works and theories are not difficult to find. Thereasons for the changes of the view of his research are: internal or external changes ofUnited States in Northeast Asia over the years(positive or negative), and adjustmentsof policies and the development status of countries in the region of Northeast Asia.Scalapino argues that the innovative domestic policies and international cooperationare the priorities of each country in the region of Northeast Asia, and they determinedthe success or failure of the social harmony and stability, regional economiccooperation, which is useful to our comprehensive summing up historical experiencesand lessons, analysis of United States in Asia, the role of Sino-US relations, and theopening up of China’s own strategic thinking. In addition, Scalapino always putsUnited States’ involvement of the regional affairs as an important reference of hisstudy, this is the limitation of his study, which is something we cannot ignore.The basic structure of this paper is divided into four chapters:Chapter one, Background. Scalapino is the subject of this article on NortheastAsian regional studies. For a broader and fully understood, however, before wediscuss Scalapino’s Northeast Asian regional studies, it is necessary to review hisexperiences as an Asian expert and his indissoluble bond with Northeast Asia. RobertScalapino’s biography includes personal experiences, academic careers, and hisbackground.In Chapter two the author examines Scalapino’s academic track in NortheastAsia studies. According to Robert Scalapino’s historical stage division of Northeast Asia, there are two stages: from the fifties or sixties of the20th century to the end ofthe cold war, the20th century and early21st century. With the development ofmultipolarization of the world and the international situation changes, after enteringthe21st century, Northeast Asia and the countries of the region are faced with anumber of issues which leads to regional tensions, but the relations also shows a muchmore promising prospects and future than ever before. At the same time his researchgoes to history and idea changes of two aspects, in order to explain the historicalchanges in Northeast Asia and its dynamic evolution. With Scalapino’s deeper studyon the problems of the region, its significance becomes more prominent.The main contents of the third chapter is a detailed research of Scalapino’s studyin Northeast Asia, including the overall understanding of the countries in the region ofNortheast Asia, which focused on describing his years in China, Japan and Korea andKorea’s political, security and Economic Affairs. On reviewing a close relationshipamong major countries in the Northeast Asia, undertaking for the chapter onNorth-East Asia region research, he specialized in the study, by means of a textexplanation, with a view to a more comprehensive description of Robert Scalapino’sstudy of major countries in the Northeast Asia regional diversity and complexity.What’s more important is that he revealed the reflect of the interests of the majorpowers in the region and in the world today relate to each other, thus highlighted theunderstanding of the theory premise.The Fourth chapter is the practice and effects of Robert Scalapino’s northeastregional research in specific historical events. Being a policy advisors, he presided atthe age of40the “Colon report” about the last century in the1960s of United States inNortheast Asia and the drafting of the policy toward China. The report reflected thecontent and role of United States policy toward Asia. Scalapino played an active rolein countless Asia related academic forum and political forum. His research andobservation of US-Asia relationship, made of issues and policies, are very useful forus to fully summary the history experience lessons, analyzing the role of United Statesin Asia and Sino-US relationship as well as developing strategy thought. Same way tointerpret historical documents in this chapter, we study on inductive classification on the Robert Scalapino of the Northeast Asia region for United States political realitiesof new needs and new ideas to make decisions and recommendations.The Last part is conclusion. By reviewing Scalapino’s Northeast Asia regionalproblem research, this paper uncovered the perspective change of causes andanalyzing its research for reality value. Despite its limitations, Scalapino’s NortheastAsia regional could help us realize Northeast Asia and United States’ view on nationsof this area, thus enable us to gain a better understanding of world history.