[KS] Re: To the Observer of Korean Politics

[Dennis Hart]

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hello,

in your post, you point to the relationships between the inflow of 
foreign capital, rise of industry, confucianism and democracy in 
south korea. you touch on a number of interesteing topics that 
have long been areas for debate within korean studies. 

however, in your analysis you might also try to account for the near 
total failure of foreign aid and confucianism to produce either 
sustained industrial growth or democracy under the syngman rhee 
era only a few years prior to the "miracle"?

that is, it seems that your hypothesis on confucianism does NOT 
explain the 1950's. nor does it explain how many observers at the 
time said that confucianism's "traditional beliefs" actually 
slowed/inhibited democratization.

further, dispite "confucianism" the syngman rhee regime was 
notoriously corrupt. so, unless you argue that south korea was 
somehow "less confucian" in the 1950s than the 1960s, i am not 
sure hwo well your argument holds up.

finally, perhaps you would want to read the work by professor kim 
eun mee out of USC. she makes a very compelling case for NOT 
considering confucianism as you did in your post.

dennis