Korean Society: Civil Society, Democracy and the State

The second half of the Twentieth Century has seen South Korea transformed from an impoverished, war-ravaged nation to one of the most successful economies in East Asia. This has been accompanied by a military authoritarian regime to a vibrant democracy. While most analyses of Korean politics have looked to elites to explain political change, this collection examines the role of ordinary people in this dramatic transformation. Taking the innovative theme of 'civil society' - voluntary organizations outside the role of the state which have participated in the process of political and social democratization - the essays collected here examine Korea as one of the most dramatic cases in the world of ordinary citizens participating in the transformation of politics: Topics include: * Comparisons of Korean democratization to the experiences of post-authoritarian regimes elsewhere in the world * Comparisons of the theory of civil society as developed in Western Europe and America * The legacy of Korea's Confucian past for contemporary politics and society * Close examinations of various civil society movements, including the labour movement, women's movement, student movement and religious organizations. Conceptually innovative, up-to-date and timely, this book will be an invaluable resource for students of contemporary Korea, Asian politics and the global struggle for democracy.