Kyuri Park

For free download: openaccess.wgtn.ac.nz/articles/jou...

I also thank Cheng-Chwee Kuik, Jürgen Haacke, and James J. Wirtz for their valuable feedback.

🕊️Last but not least, in memory of Johan Galtung (1930-2024), I’m grateful that this piece, which builds on his structural theory of dominance and liberation, has found a home at the Journal of Peace Research and Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) — the journal and institute he founded.

📝I would also like to thank those who served as discussants at various workshops where this paper was presented: Steve E. Miller @himself.bsky.social, Brandon Kinne, Daryl Press, @tomlongphd.bsky.social, Stacie Goddard, @moritz-graefrath.com, and Rachel Metz.

📊This research, the construction of the dataset, would not have been possible without the generous funding & research support of StandTogether @aparc.stanford.edu @global-wm.bsky.social @usccis.bsky.social, the guidance of postdoc mentors Gi-Wook Shin @miketierneyir.bsky.social, and help of my RAs.

🙏🏻 I’m thankful to those who offered thoughtful feedback along the way — especially my PhD advisor @daveckang.bsky.social; US-Asia Predoc mentors, John S. Park and Jonathan Markowitz; my dissertation committee members, Thomas Valente and Patrick James; and my M.A. advisor @victordcha.bsky.social.

👩🏻‍💻At a time when middle & small powers are increasingly seeking to enhance their agency through network power, I’m pleased to share this work, which began as my PhD dissertation in 2016. Very grateful to @jpeaceresearch.bsky.social @oxfordunipress.bsky.social for making it Open Access!

🔎Key finding: Using network analysis and descriptive statistics, I show that over the past two decades, U.S. allies — including those with maritime disputes with rising China — have expanded exercises with Beijing while maintaining cooperation with Washington and regional peers.

🗣I argue that secondary states pursue 3 network strategies to mitigate vulnerability to great-power coercion and to enhance relational leverage and access to information and resources: 1) Vertical diversification with great powers; 2) Horizontal diversification with peers, and 3) Bridging.

Network strategies of secondary states in the Asia-Pacific: evidence from joint military exercises, 1970–2024 Abstract. How do secondary states in the Asia-Pacific enhance their security and strategic autonomy in a networked strategic environment? Conventional stud

📣How do secondary states in the Asia-Pacific enhance security and strategic autonomy in a networked strategic environment? Check out my new article @jpeaceresearch.bsky.social that answers this using a dataset of joint military exercises of Asia-Pacific (1970–2024). academic.oup.com/jpr/article/...

Network strategies of secondary states in the Asia-Pacific: evidence from joint military exercises, 1970–2024 Abstract. How do secondary states in the Asia-Pacific enhance their security and strategic autonomy in a networked strategic environment? Conventional stud

Great new article from Professor Kyuri Park, on joint military exercises in East Asia. My short summary? China is doing way more JMEs, even with US allies, than we realize. The region continues to move in ways not expected by conventional DC wisdom.

academic.oup.com/jpr/advance-...

www.wgtn.ac.nz/hppi/about/e...

My very first public speaking event in Wellington, done! ✅💐It was meaningful to make this debut at "The Politics in Year Review" event celebrating the start of new academic year alongside my colleagues in the Political Science and International Relations programme
@vicuniwgtn.bsky.social

Europe to America: ‘We Are Looking for New Partners’ FP’s all-star panel at the Munich Security Conference.

🇫🇮Finnish President Alexander Stubb, at the Munich Security Conference, February 2026: foreignpolicy.com/2026/02/13/m...

“The Strong Do What They Can, the Weak Suffer What They Must” – Belgium’s Stark Warning at the UN YouTube video by EU Debates | eudebates.tv

🇧🇪Belgian PM Bart De Wever, at the United Nations General Assembly, January 2026: youtube.com/shorts/c8z63...

Consistent message from Davos to the UN to Munich: middle/small powers are rejecting Thucydidean fatalism. The weak will not simply “suffer what they must” while “the strong do what they can." Will cooperate, diversify, & build networks rather than rely solely on a great power.

Insightful conversation with @curiouskyuri.bsky.social on her book manuscript that we workshopped this year at @global-wm.bsky.social. Thanks for this Kyuri.

Thanks, Ed! Yes, I’m looking forward to visiting — and to reconnecting with colleagues and friends in Australia, since I’ll be nearby!

Thank you for taking a moment to celebrate this milestone in my academic journey! I’m a happy APARCer - looking forward to sharing my research and achievements ahead🤗

감사합니다, 교수님! Thank you for your unwavering support, guidance, and trust over nearly a decade of this journey together. I’m excited about our continued collaboration 🥳😎🙌

Thank you :)

I’d also like to express my deep gratitude to everyone who has helped me grow as a scholar and a person – especially my mentors, colleagues, students, and friends at Georgetown University, @usc.edu, @aparc.stanford.edu, and @global-wm.bsky.social. I look forward to continuing to learn from you all☺️

As I begin preparing for the next chapter of my academic journey in New Zealand – back in the Asia-Pacific region🌏, after 11 incredible years in the US 🇺🇸 – I’m thankful to my colleagues at @vicuniwgtn.bsky.social for the warm welcome and support. Looking forward to building the community together! 🙌🏻

I’m thrilled to share that I will be joining Victoria University of Wellington🇳🇿 as a Lecturer in International Relations & International Security (equivalent to an Assistant Professor, tenure) at the School of History, Philosophy, Political Science & IR, starting February 2026!

Thanks for sharing my recent public engagement work, including the op-ed and podcast. I’m grateful for the continued support 💐

Security Dilemma: East Asia: Balancing or Bandwagoning? with Kyuri Park YouTube video by John Quincy Adams Society

You can check this out on multiple platforms using the link below:
🔗 Youtube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQr8...
🔗 Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/0b6V...
🔗 Apple Podcast: podcasts.apple.com/kr/podcast/e...
🔗 iHeartRadio: www.iheart.com/podcast/269-...

Big thanks to A.J. Manuzzi at the John Quincy Adams Society (JQAS) and Michelle Anne Newby at Defense Priorities for the great conversation!

South Korea Will Not Choose Between the US and China South Korea under President Lee Jae-myung is returning to pragmatic diplomacy, maintaining its US alliance while rejecting confrontation with China, reflecting public sentiment and prioritizing peace,...

In the later half, we also discussed the future of the U.S.-South Korea alliance in the wake of the election of new President Lee Jae-myung and whether nuclear diplomacy with North Korea is viable! Here, I’ve expanded on a few key points from my National Interest piece with @daveckang.bsky.social

Check out my podcast episode with Security Dilemma 🎙️hosted by JQAS! I talked about my book project on security cooperation in the Asia-Pacific amid US–China rivalry, using joint military exercises to understand the strategic behavior of small/middle powers and its implications for US foreign policy📚

On South Korea's balancing act – by @curiouskyuri.bsky.social, our 2022–23 postdoctoral fellow, and @daveckang.bsky.social 👇