From Stalin to Kim Il Sung: The Formation of North Korea, 1945-1960 [Library Binding]

Andrei Lankov (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 30, 2002

To understand how North Korea has survived as the world's last Stalinist regime, despite international isolation and at enormous human cost to its people, one must look at how its political system was created. The country's foundations were laid in the late 1940s and the 1950s as a result of interaction between the Soviet Stalinist model, imposed from outside, and local traditions. Andrei Lankov traces the formation of the North Korean state and the early years of Kim Il Sung's rule, when the future "Great Leader" and his entourage were consolidating their power base. Surveying the situation in North Korea after 1945, Lankov explores the internal composition of the ruling elite, the role of the Soviets, and the uneasy relations between various politcal groups. He also focuses on how in 1956 Kim Il Sung defeated the only known attempt to oust him and thereby established personal rule beyond either Soviet or Chinese control. The book is based on previously secret Soviet documents from Russian archives, as well as interviews with Russian and Korean participants.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

To understand how North Korea has survived as the world's last Stalinist regime despite international isolation-and at enormous human costs to its people-one must look at how its political system was created. The country's foundations were laid in the late 1940s and 1950s as a result of interaction between the Soviet Stalinist model, imposed from outside, and local traditions.

Andrei Lankov traces the formation of the North Korean state and the early years of Kim Il Sung's rule, when the future "Great Leader" and his entourage were consolidating their power base. Surveying the situation in North Korea after 1945, Lankov explores the internal composition of the ruling elite, the role of the Soviets, and the uneasy relations between various political groups. He also focuses on how in 1956 Kim Il Sung defeated the only known attempt to oust him and thereby established absolute personal rule beyond either Soviet or Chinese control.

The book is based on previously secret Soviet material from Russian archives, as well as interviews with Russian and Korean participants.

About the Author

Andrei Lankov is a research fellow at the China and Korea Centre, Faculty of Asian Studies, Australian National University.

Product Details

• Library Binding: 224 pages
• Publisher: Rutgers University Press (June 30, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813531179
• ISBN-13: 978-0813531175
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,281,536 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Little-known facts abou the early history of North Korea, January 1, 2006

By 

Nerdus Maximus (The American Northeast) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: From Stalin to Kim Il Sung: The Formation of North Korea, 1945-1960 (Library Binding)

Kudos to Andrei Lankov. Lankov is known for his expertise on North Korea and this book is a great example of his credentials.

Even those who have studied Korean history (in the west and in South Korea) often state that North Korea was erected immediately upon Japanese defeat in World War II. THese pundits claim Stalin had plans to build a friendly communist state in Korea - and Lankov shows this is absolutely untrue.

Lankov is honest enough to admit that he does not have access to all the existing Soviet archival material on the Korean War and on Soviet-North Korean relations between 1945 and 1950. However, he does a great job detailing the early history of political events in northern Korea, from the moment Soviet troops arrived, until the post-Korean War years.

A must, with many facts and easy to read, for anyone who wants a good grasp on the origins of North Korea.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A disjointed book, December 20, 2006

By 

Susan Donal - See all my reviews

This review is from: From Stalin to Kim Il Sung: The Formation of North Korea, 1945-1960 (Library Binding)

This book seems to be a series of essays or lectures quickly cobbled together in book form. Difficult reading and uninteresting. A disappointing purchase.