APPLICATION OF DÉ-COINCIDENCE AND ITS EXPANSION TO NORTHEAST ASIAN POLITICAL SOCIETY

Keun Se Lee and Eun Ha Kim

Abstract

This study aims to restrain possible attempts to force ideological coincidence into Northeast Asia, by comprehending François Jullien’s concept of de-coincidence and the meaning of interface that it implies. The interface for a common society can operate only in a dynamic relationship maintaining a mutual divide (écart). The current ideologies of Northeast Asia are overdetermined by various cultural changes and assimilation processes through the modernization. However, the creation of an interspace for communication in Northeast Asia cannot be based on the homogenization of the multilayered ideologies. The dominant orientation towards coincidence in Northeast Asia hinders the dynamics of dialogue by relying on force. This study argues that the concept of de-coincidence opens up other possibilities in politics and is an important element avoiding the devastating indictments of conformed ideas of coincidence. As a result, this paper elucidates the theoretical foundation for interface of coexistence ethics, clearly beneficial to Northeast Asian political societies. Expanding the de-coincidence methodology like this approach will contribute to dismantling the illusion of so-called universal coincidence.