근대국가 건설기 민족주의의 변형과 굴절 ― 한국과 독일에서의 분단 극복과 민주국가 수립의 충돌 ―

Abstract

Should the establishment of a divided state be regarded as the failure of nationalism? In order to answer this question, this article compares Korean and German nationalism, with a special focus on the period in which South Korea and West Germany were founded. Despite different historical experiences, Korea and Germany faced a common task following their ‘liberation’ from colonialism and dictatorship in 1945 and subsequent division at the hands of the communist and democratic camps. As divided states, the main task of nationalism in South Korea and West Germany was that of reunification. For West Germany, the need to overcome totalitarianism and achieve a peaceful Europe constituted an important element of its post-war nationalism. In this regard, discussions of reunification had to take a back seat amidst the establishment of a democratic system. Meanwhile, the two Koreas found their very existence being denied as ideological and political differences, regarded as obstacles to reunification and as hostile attitudes, came to be perceived as something to be resolved through force of arms if necessary. This ironical situation in which the rejection of the other part of the nation was understood as the essence of post-war nationalism in Korea can be regarded as the result of a dual attitude towards nationalism.