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Kimism in Sŏn’gun Korea: The Third Generation of the Kim Dynasty

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National Security, Statecentricity, and Governance in East Asia

Part of the book series: Security, Development and Human Rights in East Asia ((SDHRP))

Abstract

North Korea is considered the world’s most autocratic country. Established in 1948, the DPRK is now governed by the third generation of the Kim family regime. Kim Il-sung, Kim Jong-il, and Kim Jong-un have utilized institutions and ideology to consolidate power. Each period of power consolidation has been marked by extensive purges and the reduction of the winning coalition. Repression is exercised through the ruling party, the military, the state, and mass organizations, which have prevented the development of civil society. State projects, particularly the nuclear program, reward the winning coalition but result in poor governance and opportunity costs borne by the North Korean people.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Troy University, Troy, AL, USA

    Daniel A. Pinkston

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  1. Daniel A. Pinkston
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of International Studies, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea (Democratic People's Republic of)

    Brendan Howe

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Pinkston, D.A. (2018). Kimism in Sŏn’gun Korea: The Third Generation of the Kim Dynasty. In: Howe, B. (eds) National Security, Statecentricity, and Governance in East Asia. Security, Development and Human Rights in East Asia. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-58974-9_2

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