North Korea: The Politics of Unconventional Wisdom

by Han S. Park (Author)

1 customer review

ISBN-13: 978-1588260505

ISBN-10: 158826050X

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Despite isolation, an impoverished economy, mass starvation, and the challenge of leadership succession, North Korea's socialist state continues to survive. Han Park explores the reasons for this resilience, concentrating on the implications of mass beliefs and political ideology for the country's political life. Park begins with an examination of Juche, or self-reliance, the ideology that so pervasively penetrates the entire spectrum of North Korean society and guides political behavior at all levels. Drawing on personal interviews and on-site observations, he finds a belief system that is comparable to a theology, and a society that exhibits many characteristics of a religious community. In this context, he discusses regime legitimacy, the economy, foreign and defense policy, and the politics of reunification, as well as the regime's reaction to the market forces of globalization. It is Juche, Park concludes, that is the locus of North Korea's political culture, central to understanding its politics and policies. Though far from proposing a single-factor explanation of the North Korean system, he demonstrates convincingly that an understanding of the country's doctrine of self-reliance is essential to an understanding of the country itself.

North Korea: The Politics of Unconventional Wisdom

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About the Author

Han S. Park is professor political science and director of the Center for the Study of Global Issues at the University of Georgia. His numerous publications include China and North Korea: The Politics of Integration and Modernization, North Korea: Ideology, Politics, Economy, and Human Needs and Political Development. He has visited North Korea regularly since 1981.

Product details

Hardcover: 190 pages
Publisher: Lynne Rienner Pub (March 2002)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 158826050X
ISBN-13: 978-1588260505
Product Dimensions: 0.8 x 6 x 9.2 inches
Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
Average Customer Review: 1 customer review
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,517,821 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #6139 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Politics & Government > Public Affairs & Policy > Social Policy
- #8749 in Books > Textbooks > Social Sciences > Political Science > Political Ideologies
- #9572 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Politics & Government > Ideologies & Doctrines > Communism & Socialism

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Excellent read for anyone with an interest in the Koreas

Bychicken revieweron January 25, 2017

Format: Paperback

I was one of Dr. Park's students at UGA in the 70's. Several years ago, I emailed him with a question regarding N. Korea and he recommended his book. For anyone who is puzzled at how and why the regime has lasted, this book will give you a much greater understanding. When I was in his class, Dr. Park was not an uncritical supporter of the government of S. Korea (or the U.S. for that matter) but had a "warts & all" view of the situation.
Its been a while since I read it but it struck me that, even after an evaluation of the government that was not as extreme as that painted in the media, he thought the leadership was extremely hardened and very likely to strike out if the regime was falling.
(as I said, its been a few years so accept my apologies if I've misstated anything. But, I came across something that triggered my memories of the book and wanted to give a recommendation for anyone with even a casual interest in that part of the world. And, note the book has some years on it now)

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