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UBC Theses and Dissertations
Controlling the uncontrollable? : economic transition and elite power in North Korea and Vietnam MacArthur, Julie Leigh
Abstract
This thesis comparatively examines the challenges of economic reform facing the North Korean elite. Is the North Korean regime willing to open the Pandora's box of economic reform? If so what does this mean for the country- both for Korean Worker's Party elites and the nation's impoverished population? It is argued here that realists skeptical of economic reform do not account for the positive incentives facing elites, such as privileged access to new economic assets. Within transitions theory, both Walder (2004) and Hellman (1998) have illustrated that communist elites can benefit, rather than lose, from gradualist economic reforms. This argument supports policies of engaging North Korea economically, and encouraging a gradual, elite-led, transition for the country. The logic of linking economic policy to security is based in liberal institutionalist theory of Keohane and Nye (2001). This emphasizes the power of socialization and interdependence to cause transformation, rather than military conflict or containment. Through analysis of Vietnamese and North Korean political economy, this comparative study makes the case that the elite-led path is possible in North Korea. However, the political will of elites to deepen reform is dependent on outside incentives, as well as the policy choices of its neighbours in Northeast Asia, and the United States. Consequently, facilitation of this process by policymakers in international financial institutions and their constituent donor countries is a key element in paving a path to peace for the DPRK.
Item Metadata
Title |
Controlling the uncontrollable? : economic transition and elite power in North Korea and Vietnam
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Creator | |
Publisher |
University of British Columbia
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Date Issued |
2006
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Description |
This thesis comparatively examines the challenges of economic reform facing the North
Korean elite. Is the North Korean regime willing to open the Pandora's box of economic
reform? If so what does this mean for the country- both for Korean Worker's Party elites and
the nation's impoverished population? It is argued here that realists skeptical of economic
reform do not account for the positive incentives facing elites, such as privileged access to new
economic assets. Within transitions theory, both Walder (2004) and Hellman (1998) have
illustrated that communist elites can benefit, rather than lose, from gradualist economic
reforms. This argument supports policies of engaging North Korea economically, and
encouraging a gradual, elite-led, transition for the country. The logic of linking economic
policy to security is based in liberal institutionalist theory of Keohane and Nye (2001). This
emphasizes the power of socialization and interdependence to cause transformation, rather than
military conflict or containment. Through analysis of Vietnamese and North Korean political
economy, this comparative study makes the case that the elite-led path is possible in North
Korea. However, the political will of elites to deepen reform is dependent on outside
incentives, as well as the policy choices of its neighbours in Northeast Asia, and the United
States. Consequently, facilitation of this process by policymakers in international financial
institutions and their constituent donor countries is a key element in paving a path to peace for
the DPRK.
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Genre | |
Type | |
Language |
eng
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Date Available |
2010-01-06
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Provider |
Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library
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Rights |
For non-commercial purposes only, such as research, private study and education. Additional conditions apply, see Terms of Use https://open.library.ubc.ca/terms_of_use.
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DOI |
10.14288/1.0078400
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URI | |
Degree | |
Program | |
Affiliation | |
Degree Grantor |
University of British Columbia
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Graduation Date |
2006-05
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Campus | |
Scholarly Level |
Graduate
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Aggregated Source Repository |
DSpace
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Item Media
Item Citations and Data
Rights
For non-commercial purposes only, such as research, private study and education. Additional conditions apply, see Terms of Use https://open.library.ubc.ca/terms_of_use.