Donald Stone Macdonald
Encyclopedia
Donald Stone Macdonald was an American
academic who specialized in Korea
n affairs, in particular the bilateral relations between South Korea
and the United States
. Macdonald had two careers, both concerning Korea. He was first a public servant at the US Department of State in Korean affairs, once serving as mayor of Kwangju and then became an academic on Korean affairs. His death in 1993 marked the end of almost five decades of involvement in Korea, dating from 1945 and the U.S. military occupation.
Born in 1919 in Boston
, Massachusetts
in the United States
, Macdonald was educated at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
where he earned his B.A. He proceeded to Harvard University
where he earned a M. A. in Political Science
before moving to Washington, D.C.
where he earned his doctorate in political science at the George Washington University
. He then began a career at the State Department in 1945, focusing on Korea
. There, he served as the Director of the Korea Desk and in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research, dividing his time between Washington and Seoul
. It was to herald the start of 48 years of continuous involvement in Korea, and at one stage, he served as the mayor of Kwangju. During his State Department career, Macdonald received the Department's Superior Honor Award three times, and was given the John Jacobs Rogers Award for Distinguished Service. In addition to posting in South Korea, he served in the Foreign Service in Turkey
and Switzerland
.
Macdonald taught at East Stroudsberg University in Pennsylvania
from 1971 to 1980. In 1983, he created the Korea program at Georgetown University
, where he taught until his death. Aside from his formal academic contributions, Macdonald oversaw Korean area studies at the State Department’s Foreign Service Institute
for a number of years. In the 1960s, he was one of the founders of the Washington Korea Tuesday Luncheon Group, and was a prominent figure in international conferences on Korea. Macdonald was a president of the Mid Atlantic Region of the Association of Asian Studies, and after his term ended he was active on its membership committee and in reforming its governance. He founded and edited the MidAtlantic Bulletin of Korean Studies. He continually worked to expand knowledge of Korea and Asia within the academic community, into the education system and the wider public. Macdonald was prominent in establishing the Wineck Prize for the best high school essay on Asian studies
in the mid-Atlantic region, and worked to disseminate knowledge of Korea outside specialist circles.
Pedagogically speaking, Macdonald's university textbook, The Koreans: Contemporary Politics and Society was the most popular university text on the subject. Macdonald was also the author of U.S.-Korea Relations from Liberation to Self-Reliance, which resulted from a classified study he undertook for the State Department. At the time of his death, he had partially completed a book on Korean politics, for which he had been awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to Korea.
Macdonald was a founder of Senior International Resources, a not-for-profit consulting firm. His social and educational concerns were reflected in his donations of time and funds for such activities.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
academic who specialized in Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
n affairs, in particular the bilateral relations between South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Macdonald had two careers, both concerning Korea. He was first a public servant at the US Department of State in Korean affairs, once serving as mayor of Kwangju and then became an academic on Korean affairs. His death in 1993 marked the end of almost five decades of involvement in Korea, dating from 1945 and the U.S. military occupation.
Born in 1919 in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Macdonald was educated at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
where he earned his B.A. He proceeded to Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
where he earned a M. A. in Political Science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
before moving to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
where he earned his doctorate in political science at the George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
. He then began a career at the State Department in 1945, focusing on Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
. There, he served as the Director of the Korea Desk and in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research, dividing his time between Washington and Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
. It was to herald the start of 48 years of continuous involvement in Korea, and at one stage, he served as the mayor of Kwangju. During his State Department career, Macdonald received the Department's Superior Honor Award three times, and was given the John Jacobs Rogers Award for Distinguished Service. In addition to posting in South Korea, he served in the Foreign Service in Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
and Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
.
Macdonald taught at East Stroudsberg University in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
from 1971 to 1980. In 1983, he created the Korea program at Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
, where he taught until his death. Aside from his formal academic contributions, Macdonald oversaw Korean area studies at the State Department’s Foreign Service Institute
Foreign Service Institute
The Foreign Service Institute is the United States Federal Government's primary training institution for employees of the U.S. foreign affairs community, preparing American diplomats and other professionals to advance U.S. foreign affairs interests overseas and in Washington...
for a number of years. In the 1960s, he was one of the founders of the Washington Korea Tuesday Luncheon Group, and was a prominent figure in international conferences on Korea. Macdonald was a president of the Mid Atlantic Region of the Association of Asian Studies, and after his term ended he was active on its membership committee and in reforming its governance. He founded and edited the MidAtlantic Bulletin of Korean Studies. He continually worked to expand knowledge of Korea and Asia within the academic community, into the education system and the wider public. Macdonald was prominent in establishing the Wineck Prize for the best high school essay on Asian studies
Asian studies
Asian studies, a term used usually in the United States for Oriental studies and is concerned with the Asian peoples, their cultures, languages, history and politics...
in the mid-Atlantic region, and worked to disseminate knowledge of Korea outside specialist circles.
Pedagogically speaking, Macdonald's university textbook, The Koreans: Contemporary Politics and Society was the most popular university text on the subject. Macdonald was also the author of U.S.-Korea Relations from Liberation to Self-Reliance, which resulted from a classified study he undertook for the State Department. At the time of his death, he had partially completed a book on Korean politics, for which he had been awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to Korea.
Macdonald was a founder of Senior International Resources, a not-for-profit consulting firm. His social and educational concerns were reflected in his donations of time and funds for such activities.