Dynamics of the Korean state : from the paleolithic age to candlelight democracy / Robert E. Bedeski, University of Victoria, Canada & University of Washington, USA.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Bedeski, Robert E., author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Civilization.

Politics and government.

Korea--History.

Korea.

History.

Korea--Civilization.

Korea--Politics and government.

Genre:

History.

Physical Description:

xvii, 251 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Singapore ; Hackensack, NJ : World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd, [2022]

Summary:

"One Korea or two? The persistence of North and South Korea since 1948 has been a source of one war and fears of new wars. Although they share centuries of common culture, society and politics, the two nations differ on fundamentals today: capitalist democracy in the south and totalitarian communism in the north. Dynamics of the Korean State provides a unique overview of how humans treasure their individual lives and how these dynamics intertwine with Korean history and state evolution. The book examines the development of the Korean state from ancient times and sees its roots in the Stone Age struggle for survival. The persistent theme has been to Prolong Life - Postpone Death. Hence, the origins of every state can be found in man's Will-to-Live, and this is demonstrated in the Will/state action framework offered by the author. Human Will, not material determinism or divine plan, creates the state. This primary Will generates five other Wills, which motivate actions to culminate in the state and give it a fluidity over time. The six Wills/state actions are as follows: Will-to-Live/production; Will-to-Freedom/innovation; Will-to-Power/organization; Will-to-Comply/enforcement; Will-to-Transcend/political vision & religion; and Will-to-Redirect/reform, usurpation, rebellion, revolution. These in combination influence and partially determine state configuration and fluidity, creating order, disorder, war, prosperity, and poverty along the way. This book reveals the undercurrents of Korean society, politics and history from a fresh perspective. Neither pure history nor descriptive politics, it is a significant contribution to a philosophical anthropology paradigm"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

The Korean State and Its Paradigms: State, Candlelight Democracy, and Populist Constitutionalism

The State as Concept and Supplement to Human Existence

Ascent of the East Asian Nation-State

Organic Life, Human Will, and Evolution of the State

Producers, Will-to-Live, and the State's Material Foundation

Innovation and the Will-to-Freedom

Agriculture and Ancient Kingdoms

Organization and the Will-to-Power

Enforcers and Protectors

The Will-to-Comply

Vision and the Will-to-Transcend

Rebels, Usurpers, and the Will-to-Redirect in the Colonial Period

Post-War Korea

Two Brittle Sovereignties, One Nation

Conclusions: Human Wills and the State.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Other Format:

Online version: Bedeski, Robert E. Dynamics of the Korean state

ISBN:

9781800610576

1800610572

OCLC:

1253474932

Publisher Number:

99989029958