Korean Society: Civil Society, Democracy and the State, 2nd Edition (Asia's Transformations)

Taking the theme of 'civil society' - voluntary organizations outside the role of the state which have participated in the process of political and social democratization - this book examines Korea as one of the most dramatic cases in the world of ordinary citizens participating in the transformation of politics. While most analyses of Korean politics have looked to elites to explain political change, this new and revised edition of "Korean Society" 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. Key topics discussed 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; and, South Korea and North Korea. Conceptually innovative, up-to-date and timely, the new edition of this book will be an invaluable resource for students of contemporary Korea, Asian politics and the global struggle for democracy

While most analyses of Korean politics have looked to elites to explain political change, this new and revised edition of Korean Society 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.

Key topics discussed 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
• South Korea and North Korea.

Conceptually innovative, up-to-date and timely, the new edition of this book will be an invaluable resource for students of contemporary Korea, Asian politics and the global struggle for democracy.

Book Cover......Page 1 Half-Title......Page 2 Series-Title......Page 3 Title......Page 8 Copyright......Page 9 Contents......Page 10 Contributors......Page 12 Introduction......Page 14 1. Civil society in West and East......Page 22 2. The problematic modernity of Confucianism: The question of “civil society” in Chosŏn dynasty Korea......Page 46 3. Civil society and democratization in South Korea......Page 66 4. Engendering civil society: The role of the labor movement......Page 86 5. The South Korean student movement: Undongkwŏn as a counterpublic sphere......Page 108 6. Women and civil society in South Korea......Page 134 7. Commemorating Kwangju: The 5.18 movement and civil society at the millennium......Page 158 8. Protestant Christianity and the state: Religious organizations as civil society......Page 180 9. Beyond the DMZ: The possibility of civil society in North Korea......Page 200 Index......Page 218 Introduction To The Second Edition / Charles K. Armstrong -- Civil Society In West And East / Bruce Cumings -- The Problematic Modernity Of Confucianism : Civil Society In Choson Korea / John Duncan -- Civil Society And Democratization In South Korea / Sunhyuk Kim -- Engendering Civil Society : The Role Of The Labor Movement / Hagen Koo -- The South Korean Student Movement : Undongkwon As Counterpublic Sphere / Namhee Lee -- Women And Civil Society In South Korea / Seungsook Moon -- Commemorating Kwangju : The 5.18 Movement And Civil Society In The Late 1990s / Linda S. Lewis -- Protestant Christianity And The State / Donald N. Clark -- Beyond The Dmz : The Possibility Of Civil Society In North Korea / Charles K. Armstrong. Edited By Charles K. Armstrong. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Thinking about the differences between Korea and the United States is an inevitable career by product for Americans who study Korea or Koreans who study America, because they are, or they become, people who have a foot in both cultures. Conceptually innovative, up-to-date and timely, the new edition of this successful text examines Korea as one of the most dramatic cases in the world of ordinary citizens participating in the transformation of politics. Written by an interdisciplinary and international team of Korean scholars, this textbook provides an up-to-date and comprehensive account of rapidly changing Korean society