Great Powers’ Interest in the Opening of Treaty Ports in the Honam Region in the Late 19th Century

The Reticence of the Netherlands

Why Nations Rise ◽

10.1093/oso/9780190639938.003.0003 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 49-68

Author(s):

Manjari Chatterjee Miller

Keyword(s):

United Kingdom ◽

The Netherlands ◽

19Th Century ◽

Great Powers ◽

Colonial Power ◽

Late 19Th Century ◽

Active Behavior ◽

The United Kingdom ◽

The World ◽

Strategic Position

In the late 19th century the Dutch entered a second Golden Age. This chapter details how the Dutch were considered the second greatest colonial power after the United Kingdom, became one of the richest countries in Europe at the time, and began military reforms. But they were extremely reticent in their foreign policy behavior, giving up colonies and engaging in passive diplomacy. Despite its colonies and wealth, the narratives within the Netherlands denied that the Dutch were imperialist, and showed little appetite for active behavior on the world stage. The behavior of the Dutch was surprising not simply when compared to the world powers of the time—these great powers were, after all, arguably in a stronger strategic position than the Netherlands. Rather the Dutch were reticent even when compared to the smaller European powers of the day who jockeyed for influence, particularly with respect to colonies.

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The Diplomatic Status of the Joseon Kingdom in the Context of the Competition among China, Japan and Russia on the Korean Peninsula (Late 19th Century)

The Bulletin of Irkutsk State University Series Political Science and Religion Studies ◽

10.26516/2073-3380.2020.34.83 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 34 ◽

pp. 83-89

Author(s):

L. E. Kozlov ◽

Keyword(s):

19Th Century ◽

Great Powers ◽

The Other ◽

Late 19Th Century ◽

The Third ◽

Fourth Level ◽

Qing Government ◽

The One ◽

Global Arena ◽

The 19Th Century

At the end of the 19th century Korea took the first steps towards developing a modern model of diplomacy. This process was hampered by the inertia of vassal-suzerain relations with China and the uncertain status of Korea on the global arena. The author analyzed the indications of incomplete sovereignty of the Joseon Kingdom and its attempts to conduct sovereign diplomacy. The attitude of the great powers to Joseon has been considered. The uncertainty of Korea's diplomatic status at the end of the 19th century can be illustrated by the following contradiction. On the one hand, the great powers recognized Korea's sovereignty as a limited one and assigned a minister resident or consul general, which corresponds to the third and fourth level of a diplomatic representative. On the other hand, the Qing government prevented Joseon from pursuing an independent foreign policy, but could not shape it at its discretion. In 1901-1902, the diplomatic status of the Joseon Kingdom finally became fully sovereign de jure, de facto though internal problems and weaknesses did not disappear, and in 1904–1905 a Japanese protectorate over Korea was established.

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