America's Commitment to South Korea: The First Decade of the Nixon Doctrine

The book analyses the strategic rationale of the American security commitment to South Korea in the light of the palpable failure of containment strategy in Indo-China. During the 1970s the dilemma confronting successive American administrations was that, whilst wishing to maintain their old commitment to South Korea, they had no desire to preside over another Vietnam. Military commitment and political support were necessarily disengaged, and the Nixon doctrine served as both the end and the means of containment strategy in Asia. The study identifies the principal conditions that have influenced changing American perspectives on South Korea, and examines some of the general problems of collective security in the region. Unique in the direct engagement of China, the Soviet Union and the United States, the security position of South Korea bears directly upon the achievement of peace and stability throughout East Asia.

Preface; Introduction; Part I. Genesis: 1. The foundation of US security policy in Korea; Part II. Strategy and Doctrine: 2. Unlimited containment; 3. The strategic implications for Korea and the Nixon Doctrine; 4. The balance-of-power implications for Korea of the Nixon Doctrine; 5. Nixon's legacy: Carter's policy of troop withdrawal from Korea; 6. Conclusion; Appendices; Notes; Index.