Poli Sci Final

Front 1

Briefly explain what corporatism is, and how political theorists adapted Marxism to develop a “left-wing version of corporatism”

Back 1

- Joint special interests groups that produce policy together
- Basic principle to view the state as an “extension of the family”
- Left-wing corporatism developed neo-socialist corporatism
o Substitute nation for class to see world system as made up of advantaged or disadvantaged (proletarian) nations

Front 2

Explain how this philosophy applies to the development of the “personality cult” surrounding Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il (417).

Back 2

- Juche assumes Korea is center of the world
- Heart and mind together form internal condition that distinguishes humans
- Humans create reality through virtue
- Leader becomes perfected being who is fit to rule the nation

Front 3

Cumings notes that from the 1940s into the mid-1960s, “North Korea grew far more rapidly than did the South” (431). What explains this rapid economic growth?

Back 3

- Most industrial autarkic economy in the world
- Lots of economic aid from USSR and China
- Heavy industry first, recruited workers
- Rations food 6 ways, wages varied in 4 ways but were very low

Front 4

Three China approaches: Why did each of these approaches fail?

Back 4

- Tough talk: US exposed as over-reaching (Iraq involvement means none in NK)
- Chinese pressure: US wanted NK to eliminate any nuclear programs, but NK refused and China reduced its role in triangular talks. US refuses to offer concessions
- Squeeze method: Roh wanted to couple diplomacy with military pressure, esposing the alliance as fractured

Front 5

What led the Pres. Bush to seek a compromise with China? What led Chinese leaders to seek a solution to the North Korean problem?

Back 5

- Importance of multilateral solutions, Increases US economic dependency on China
- China only player in six-party to bring NK back to table

Front 6

Park notes that “there is hardly any separation at all between the military and civilian sectors” (121). Explain how the two sectors are intertwined.

Back 6

- A sense of uniformity has been created by the military, maintained a high degree of uniformity in cultural orientation of populace
- 10-year compulsory military service, so “virtually every family has at least on solider in military service
- Military performs an “extensive role” in villages (no examples given how…)
- Role heightened because all “physically functioning people in the country are mobilized in the People’s Militia”
- Cultural traits that describe civilians were first instituted among military
o Uniformity, obedience to authority, clear definition of common enemy, resolve and determination
- “Songun doctrine” created a belief system among citizens that says they must follow the military because the military is always right
- Pervasive sense of equality across society: all except Supreme Leader are supposed to be equal in making decisions that effect everyone (many meetings/deliberations at all levels, even military)

Front 7

Explain why Kim Il-sung regarded military self-defense as the “backbone” of juche (123).

Back 7

- (Bottom two paragraphs on 123)
- Original goal to prevent another Japanese colonial phase
- “Ideological preparedness” was not enough, self-defense necessary
- Kim Il-Sung: “‘You must have a nation before working on its prosperity.’”
- Notion of revolutionary struggle helps protect from imperial forces and achieving national unification (sovereign nation-state rather than Marxist proletarian classless society”

Front 8

Songun’s “intermediate origins” involve threats to the regime’s survival, particularly the “demise of the Communist bloc” and “encirclement by enemies.” Explain the nature of these threats.

Back 8

- Demise of Communist bloc: 1970s saw rift between China and Soviet Union and demise of socialist countries in Europe
o Collapse and absorption of East Germany causes alarm in NK leadership
o Kim Il-sung blamed “lack of solidarity and ideological cohesiveness on the part of the socialists”
o **This forced Kim Il-sung to tighten up political education and accelerate military buildup
- Encirclement by enemies: South Korea allies with US and Japan
o SK becoming economic power in 80s and had successful Seoul Olympic games in ‘88
o NK sees US-SK “Team Spirit” (an annual joint military exercise) as message that country can be attacked at any time
o In response, NK began creating bomb shelters (turned Pyongyang subway into one)
o US-backed SK accederated development of NK nuclear weapons program.

Front 9

NK “internal changes may be more determinative of its recent behavior.” Explain what the internal changes are and how they likely shape North Korea’s behavior.

Back 9

Internal changes and their impact on North Korean behavior
- Kim Jong Il’s poor health: national focus on a smooth succession to next leader
o As they direct their focus internally, they are less concerned with establishing diplomatic relations with other states
o Want to be recognized as a nuclear state and are unwilling to denuclearize to establish relations with the United States or other countries
o By setting off nuclear missiles tests,
 They make it seem as though they are in a position of control;
 They deter external attacks/ interferences
o Trying to isolate themselves from South Korea and the US simultaneously

Front 10

What factors seem to promote the likelihood that China will “stand with the international community rather than North Korea”? What are the obstacles “to effective Sino-US coordination”?

Back 10

- Factors that indicate China will side with the international community
o Chinese- North Korean relations have been strained since the 1990’s when China normalized relations with South Korea
o China tends to see North Korean issues from the perspective of Sino-US relations
o With respect to financial issues, China is more concerned with protecting its banks’ credibility than with protecting North Korea
 Crisis with Macao-based Banco Delta Asia: US Treasury discovered that Chinese bank had accused North Korean clients engaged in counterfeiting and money laudering; China immediately froze over $20 million in North Korean investments while the situation was under investigation
- Obstacles that could stand in the way of effective Sino-US relations
o Sino-US agenda is already overloaded; North Korea is not likely to rise to the top of the list unless there is some sort of crisis (ie. military conflict)
o Denuclearization could lead to North Korean regime collapse and subsequently an influx of refugees in China
o According to the author of the article, the US should frame the issue to encourage China make a choice
 Continuing to support a nuclear North Korea poses a threat to China’s national interest and the stability of its neighbors

Front 11

According to Lee, North Korea will likely try to maintain the status quo and resist cooperation and constructive engagement. In particular, Lee suggests that a more cooperative engagement with South Korea (and other countries) might threaten its political system (63). Explain why this might be so.

Back 11

- Preoccupation with Relative gains, one side will always gain more than the other
- North feels South will use additional power to implement policy intended to damage/destroy NK
- NK fear of being forced to adopt an open-door policy and economic reforms they aren’t ready for

Front 12

Why is China’s support important to North Korea’s survival, and why would China likely try to prevent North Korea’s collapse?

Back 12

- China has pumped in resources to NK economically to ensure it wont collapse
- Beijing would lose face, confidence, authority, and security.
- Collapse would place huge financial burden for China to absorb
- China would have to deal with NK refugees
- Rise of Korea as a possible economic rival for China