The regimes in Taiwan and North Korea were created as a result of the division of China and the Korean Peninsula following the end of World War II. Since that time, the two regimes have existed in the shadow of a powerful, threatening opponent. Although the regimes have long promoted the policy of reunification, no progress has been made toward that goal. In fact, instead of moving closer to the system on the other side of the divide, Taiwan and North Korea have both developed increasingly unique and independent identities. The regimes also exhibit behavior that runs contrary to expectations and predictions. Studies often point to domestic political factors to explain the development of these systems and the behavior that has perpetuated the division and conflict. This study posits that division and competition with the enemy on the other side strongly influenced identity development and behavior in Taiwan and North Korea.; A model is proposed to provide a framework for a systematic analysis of decision-making and identity development in the context of division and competition with a salient, more powerful, out-group. The findings support the initial proposition and suggest the need for further research.
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