Korean Society Civil Society, Democracy, and the State

Citizens' groups and social movements have been crucial in transforming South Korea from a military authoritarian regime to one of the most dynamic democracies in Asia. 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 democratisation - 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 with the experiences of post-authoritarian regimes elsewhere in the world the legacy of Korea's Confucian past for contemporary politics and society close examinations of various civil society movements, including the labor movement, the student movement, the women's movement and religious organization the possibilities for political change and the emergence of civil society in North Korea. Including both new and revised material, this second edition remains conceptually innovative, topical and fully up-to-date, providing an interdisciplinary study that will be an invaluable resource for students of contemporary Korea, Asian politics and society.Armstrong, Charles K. is the author of 'Korean Society Civil Society, Democracy, and the State' with ISBN 9780415263887 and ISBN 0415263883.