DOCSLIB.ORG

North Korea: the Demise of a Stalinist Totalitarian State

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
North Korea: the Demise of a Stalinist Totalitarian State NORTH KOREA: THE DEMISE OF A STALINIST TOTALITARIAN STATE ____________ A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of California State University, Chico ____________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts in Political Science ____________ by ©Bradley W. Bourdon 2012 Spring 2012 NORTH KOREA: THE DEMISE OF A STALINIST TOTALITARIAN STATE A Thesis by Bradley W. Bourdon Spring 2012 APPROVED BY THE DEAN OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL AND VICE PROVOST FOR RESEARCH: _________________________________ Eun K. Park, Ph.D. APPROVED BY THE GRADUATE ADVISORY COMMITTEE: _________________________________ _________________________________ Matthew O. Thomas, Ph.D. James Jacob, Ph.D., Chair Graduate Coordinator _________________________________ Paul Viotti, Ph.D. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank several people as this project comes to an end. First, I would like to thank my parents, John and Sandy. They have always been entirely supportive of all my endeavors, no matter how crazy. Without their unconditional love and reinforcement, I would not be the man I am today. I would also like to thank my oldest friend Mary Tchamkina for her insight, wisdom, ability to put things in perspective, and always having the uncanny talent of providing the perfect pep-talk for me whenever I need it. I am also thankful to Bill Myers, Ph.D. of the University of Alaska Anchorage for providing me with a top-notch undergraduate educational experience that more than adequately prepared me for the rigors of graduate school. I also want to thank James Jacob Ph.D. for his belief and trust in me and for being such an inspirational figure. I am honored for the privilege to be his teaching assistant. I would also like to thank Paul Viotti Ph.D. for being on my thesis committee and helping me think more outside the box. And lastly, I would like to thank whoever is reading this thesis right now. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE Acknowledgements .................................................................................................... iii Abstract ...................................................................................................................... v CHAPTER I. Introduction ............................................................................................... 1 II. Literature Review ...................................................................................... 7 III. The Weaknesses of the Kim Regime ........................................................ 31 Kim Il-sung ......................................................................................... 32 Juche Philosophy ................................................................................ 34 Consolidation of Government ............................................................. 37 Kim Jong-il ......................................................................................... 39 Kim Jong-un........................................................................................ 46 Outlook for the Future ........................................................................ 51 IV. Visionary Reunification ............................................................................ 53 South Korea‘s Economy Versus North Korea‘s Economy ................. 54 Political, Social, and Technological Differences ................................ 58 The Sunshine Policy ........................................................................... 60 North Korea‘s Vision for Reunification ............................................. 65 Germany‘s Reunification Not Comparable to Korean Reunification . 69 V. China‘s Eroding Relationship With North Korea ...................................... 75 China and North Korea‘s Historical Relationship .............................. 77 Postmodernism and China .................................................................. 80 China and South Korea ....................................................................... 83 Chinese Attitudes Towards Democracy.............................................. 84 China‘s Distaste for North Korea‘s Nuclear Goals............................. 85 The Future of the Increasingly Strained Relationship ........................ 87 VI. Conclusion ................................................................................................ 90 References ............................................................................................................. 97 iv ABSTRACT NORTH KOREA: THE DEMISE OF A STALINIST TOTALITARIAN STATE by Bradley W. Bourdon Master of Arts in Political Science California State University, Chico Spring 2012 In this thesis, an attempt will be made to anticipate the future of North Korea in the 21st century. North Korea faces staggering difficulties that may result in the continuing weakening of the country and even the collapse of the Kim regime. North Korea is a unique country like no other. Its government system is based on a cult of personality and a military-first mindset. It is an impoverished nation that relies on foreign aid, primarily from China and the United States, to sustain itself. It has a nuclear program and has one of the largest standing armies in the world. However, North Korea faces many problems and it has inherent weaknesses that will be ever more so pronounced in the 21st century. This thesis will start with a literature review aimed at surveying the contemporary issues facing North Korea. Next, the three most significant elements threatening North Korea‘s viability will be examined. First, the leadership of North Korea is inherently defective and the cult of personality is unsustainable. The government v system is becoming more fragmented. Second, reunification of the Korean Peninsula is extremely unlikely. South Korea has too much at stake, the two political and cultural identities of the countries are divergent, and North Korea‘s vision of reunification is vastly different from that of South Korea, China, and the United States vision. And last, North Korea relies on China for political and material support. However, China‘s political and cultural ideology is changing and China is adopting elements of postmodernism. Throughout the 1990‘s and 2000‘s, China has shown an increasing reluctance to support North Korea, and this trend will continue in the 21st century. All of these factors will hobble North Korea‘s development and hasten the demise of the Kim regime. vi CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION In the heart of North Korea‘s capital Pyongyang stands a commanding, enormous, and undeniably impressive pyramid. Standing at over 1,000 feet and with over 100 floors, the Ryugyong Hotel sternly dominates the city‘s skyline. Bold and ambitious, Kim Il-sung imagined the Ryugyong Hotel to be a definitive statement on the resolve of North Korea, and an architectural marvel for the rest of the world. Its aggressive architectural design and unavoidable size visually imposes itself onto all the citizens of Pyongyang. However, behind its glass façade lays a dormant shell of a building that is structurally unsound. Moreover, ―even by Communist standards, the 3,000-room hotel is hideously ugly‖ and it ―isn‘t just the worst designed building in the world – it‘s the worst built building, too‖ (Hagberg 2008). Built with inferior concrete and with major construction flaws such as crooked (and therefore unusable) elevator shafts, the Ryugyong hotel is fundamentally damaged. Although construction started in 1987, once the Soviet Union collapsed, North Korea was unable to continue construction and therefore for over two decades the hotel stood as an empty concrete shell. Recently, a foreign investor accepted the task to finish the hotel‘s exterior so it could fully masquerade as a successful construction project and therefore hide the truth of its existence. The Ryugyong hotel stands as a metaphor for North Korea itself. 1 2 This thesis will examine all the difficulties North Korea faces and it will suggest that North Korea is indeed on a path towards its own assured demise, primarily because of the Kim regime‘s inability to maintain power. Internal, rather than external, forces will most likely weaken the North Korean government to the point where the Kim regime will be rendered ineffective. Its current government system is arguably inherently flawed and unsustainable. Additionally, North Korea is becoming more and more isolated. By reviewing the intricacies of the Kim regime, the impossibilities of reunification, and China‘s apparent abandonment of North Korea, this thesis will cover the main reasons why the Kim regime will face potentially insurmountable challenges in the 21st century, and how the future of North Korea‘s success lies in the balance. The North Korean government is one of the most oppressive in the world and it invades every facet of life for its citizens. Under the guise of a cult of personality, North Korea‘s propaganda machine paints a very unrealistic picture of the Kim regime. Almost solely relying on false appearances and postures, North Korea is far weaker than it suggests to both its own citizens as well as to the rest of the world. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, North Korea has been unable to move forward and progress in any noteworthy capacity. North Korea is on a trajectory that suggests it is headed towards failure. The cult of personality and political philosophy of juche, invented by North Korea‘s first leader Kim Il-sung, are not sustainable practices that will ensure longevity. Juche philosophy asserts political independence,
Load more

Recommended publications
  • "Mostly Propaganda in Nature": Kim Il Sung, the Juche Ideology, and The
    NORTH KOREA INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTATION PROJECT WORKING PAPER #3 THE NORTH KOREA INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTATION PROJECT WORKING PAPER SERIES Christian F. Ostermann and James F. Person, Series Editors This paper is one of a series of Working Papers published by the North Korea International Documentation Project of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, D.C. Established in 2006 by a grant from the Korea Foundation, and in cooperation with the University of North Korean Studies (Seoul), the North Korea International Documentation Project (NKIDP) addresses the scholarly and policymaking communities’ critical need for reliable information on the North Korean political system and foreign relations by widely disseminating newly declassified documents on the DPRK from the previously inaccessible archives of Pyongyang’s former communist allies. With no history of diplomatic relations with Pyongyang and severely limited access to the country’s elite, it is difficult to for Western policymakers, journalists, and academics to understand the forces and intentions behind North Korea’s actions. The diplomatic record of North Korea’s allies provides valuable context for understanding DPRK policy. Among the activities undertaken by the project to promote this aim are a section in the periodic Cold War International History Project BULLETIN to disseminate new findings, views, and activities pertaining to North Korea in the Cold War; a fellowship program for Korean scholars working on North Korea; international scholarly meetings, conferences, and seminars; and publications. The NKIDP Working Paper Series is designed to provide a speedy publications outlet for historians associated with the project who have gained access to newly- available archives and sources and would like to share their results.
    [Show full text]
  • North Korea's Political System*
    This article was translated by JIIA from Japanese into English as part of a research project to promote academic studies on the international circumstances in the Asia-Pacific. JIIA takes full responsibility for the translation of this article. To obtain permission to use this article beyond the scope of your personal use and research, please contact JIIA by e-mail ([email protected]) Citation: International Circumstances in the Asia-Pacific Series, Japan Digital Library (March 2016), http://www2.jiia.or.jp/en/digital_library/korean_peninsula.php Series: Korean Peninsula Affairs North Korea’s Political System* Takashi Sakai** Introduction A year has passed since the birth of the Kim Jong-un regime in North Korea following the sudden death of General Secretary Kim Jong-il in December 2011. During the early days of the regime, many observers commented that all would not be smooth sailing for the new regime, citing the lack of power and previ- ous experience of the youthful Kim Jong-un as a primary cause of concern. However, on the surface at least, it now appears that Kim Jong-un is now in full control of his powers as the “Guiding Leader” and that the political situation is calm. The crucial issue is whether the present situation is stable and sustain- able. To consider this issue properly, it is important to understand the following series of questions. What is the current political structure in North Korea? Is the political structure the same as that which existed under the Kim Jong-il regime, or have significant changes occurred? What political dynamics are at play within this structure? Answering these questions with any degree of accuracy is not an easy task.
    [Show full text]
  • North Korean Decisionmaking
    C O R P O R A T I O N JOHN V. PARACHINI, SCOTT W. HAROLD, GIAN GENTILE, DEREK GROSSMAN, LEAH HEEJIN KIM, LOGAN MA, MICHAEL J. MAZARR, LINDA ROBINSON North Korean Decisionmaking Economic Opening, Conventional Deterrence Breakdown, and Nuclear Use For more information on this publication, visit www.rand.org/t/RRA165-1 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available for this publication. ISBN: 978-1-9774-0553-1 Published by the RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, Calif. © Copyright 2020 RAND Corporation R® is a registered trademark. Limited Print and Electronic Distribution Rights This document and trademark(s) contained herein are protected by law. This representation of RAND intellectual property is provided for noncommercial use only. Unauthorized posting of this publication online is prohibited. Permission is given to duplicate this document for personal use only, as long as it is unaltered and complete. Permission is required from RAND to reproduce, or reuse in another form, any of its research documents for commercial use. For information on reprint and linking permissions, please visit www.rand.org/pubs/permissions. The RAND Corporation is a research organization that develops solutions to public policy challenges to help make communities throughout the world safer and more secure, healthier and more prosperous. RAND is nonprofit, nonpartisan, and committed to the public interest. RAND’s publications do not necessarily reflect the opinions of its research clients and sponsors. Support RAND Make a tax-deductible charitable contribution at www.rand.org/giving/contribute www.rand.org Preface Discerning the decisionmaking of Kim Jong-Un and the North Korean regime on issues of peaceful engagement and warlike actions endures as a mighty challenge for U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Demography of a Reunified Korea
    a report of the csis korea chair Demography of a Reunified Korea January 2013 Author Elizabeth Hervey Stephen CHARTING our future a report of the csis korea chair Demography of a Reunified Korea Author January 2013 Elizabeth Hervey Stephen CHARTING our future About CSIS—50th Anniversary Year For 50 years, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) has developed solutions to the world’s greatest policy challenges. As we celebrate this milestone, CSIS scholars are developing strategic insights and bipartisan policy solutions to help decisionmakers chart a course toward a better world. CSIS is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. The Center’s 220 full- time staff and large network of affiliated scholars conduct research and analysis and develop policy initiatives that look into the future and anticipate change. Founded at the height of the Cold War by David M. Abshire and Admiral Arleigh Burke, CSIS was dedicated to finding ways to sustain American prominence and prosperity as a force for good in the world. Since 1962, CSIS has become one of the world’s preeminent international institutions focused on defense and security; regional stability; and transnational challenges ranging from en- ergy and climate to global health and economic integration. Former U.S. senator Sam Nunn has chaired the CSIS Board of Trustees since 1999. Former deputy secretary of defense John J. Hamre became the Center’s president and chief executive of- ficer in April 2000. CSIS does not take specific policy positions; accordingly, all views expressed herein should be understood to be solely those of the author(s).
    [Show full text]
  • NORTH KOREAN PERSPECTIVES JULY 23–OCTOBER 4 Mocp.Org
    NORTH KOREAN PERSPECTIVES JULY 23–OCTOBER 4 mocp.org Viewer’s Guide This guide serves as a viewer’s supplement to the exhibitionNorth Korean Perspectives and contains information about the works on view, the history of North Korea, questions for looking and discussion, and suggested readings. You may download this guide from the museum’s website at mocp.org/education/resources-for-educators.php. A PDF with images that can be projected for classroom use can also be found there. To schedule a free docent-led tour, please complete the form here. mocp.org/education/tours-and-print-viewings.php. Generous support for North Korean Perspectives is provided by the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation, Cultural Services at the Consulate General of France in Chicago, and Hahnemühle. The 2014-2015 season is sponsored by The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, BMO Harris Bank and the Illinois Arts Council Agency. It is also partially supported by a CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. Marc Prüst, Guest Curator Introduction How should we approach the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, as North Korea is formally called? The country seems practically sealed off from external influence and impenetrable by anyone from beyond its borders. Travelers to North Korea can visit the country only on planned tours with state-appointed chaperones, or “minders,” who follow virtu- ally every step they take. Independent, uncensored media do not exist in North Korea; the state press agency, Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), is the only source of photographs by North Korean nationals.
    [Show full text]
  • NORTH KOREA a Geographic Overview
    NORTH KOREA A Geographic Overview ËËËËËËË Authored by the Geography Faculty Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering United States Military Academy West Point, New York EDITORS: EUGENE J. PALKA & FRANCIS A. GALGANO FOREWORD BY: WENDELL C. KING CONTRIBUTIONS BY: JON C. MALINOWSKI DENNIS D. COWHER PETER G. ANDERSON ALBERT A. LAHOOD JAMES B. DALTON. JEFFERY S.W. GLOEDE MATTHEW R. SAMPSON MARK R. READ PATRICK E. MANGIN WILLIAM M. REDING BRANDON K. HERL ERIC D. LARKIN - ii - December 2002 Foreword ORTH KOREA IS A country about the size of New York, inhabited by about 23 million people. However, N notwithstanding its relatively small size, North Korea remains a most volatile and dangerous state, and continues to be a crucial component in the regional stability of East Asia and the security strategy of the United States long after the end of the so-called Cold War. That volatility has been magnified over previous months as evidenced by North Korea’s deliberate abrogation of a 1994 nuclear non-proliferation treaty and strident announcements that it will now continue its nuclear weapons development and production program. Since the end of the Second World War, the seminal issue on the Peninsula has been the rivalry between North and South Korea. North Korea came into existence after the conclusion of the Second World War following decades of brutal occupation by the Japanese empire. Partitioning the peninsula into North and South Korea was the politically expedient solution to one of many post-war political disagreements between the Allied powers. This artificial division of a homogenous nation and culture could be seen as a unintentional social and political human experiment.
    [Show full text]
  • Pols X264 Politics and International Relations of North Korea 1
    Loyola University New Orleans POLSX264 Politics and International Relations of North Korea Spring 2019 (8-weeks online course) Dr. Kim, Young Soo Office: Monroe 279 Email: [email protected] Course Description This course is designed to enhance understanding of the multifaceted dimensions of politics and international relations of Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK or North Korea). We look at the trajectory of history of North Korea in domestic politics and relations with neighboring countries including China, Russia, Japan, South Korea, and the United States (US) from the variety of approaches. Special attentions are given to the focusing events and significant agenda that shape regional and international landscape surrounding North Korea, such as development of WMD, refugees, and transnational crimes. Course Objectives This course seeks to contribute to the learning objectives of the Department of Political Science. Students will be able: § To grasp general knowledge of North Korean politics, society, ideology and international relations. § To elaborate the hereditary nature of dictatorship. § To understand the strategy of military provocations (military-first politics) of North Korea. § To account for the determinants that drive North Korea to develop nuclear program and missile technology. § To elaborate the complicated military and security configuration of regional order of East Asia. § To discuss the events and their implications of human rights issues of North Korea. § To analyze the prospect of regional and international order centered around North Korea foreign policies and responses of surrounding countries. Required Materials The following is a required book. It will be available at the University bookstore. You can also purchase it through other online booksellers: § Kyung-Ae Park & Scott Snyder, eds.
    [Show full text]
  • The Geographical Construction of National Identity and State
    THE GEOGRAPHICAL CONSTRUCTION OF NATIONAL IDENTITY AND STATE INTERESTS BY A WEAK NATION-STATE: THE DYNAMIC GEOPOLITICAL CODES AND STABLE GEOPOLITICAL VISIONS OF NORTH KOREA, 1948-2010 BY JONGWOO NAM DISSERTATION Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Geography in the Graduate College of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2012 Urbana, Illinois Doctoral Committee: Professor Colin Flint, Chair Professor David Wilson Assistant Professor Ashwini Chhatre Professor Paul F. Diehl ABSTRACT This study is a textual analysis of North Korea ’s geopolitical discourses. Through the analysis of North Korea ’s geopolitical visions and codes, this study provides a theoretical framework to explicate weak nation-states ’ foreign and security policies beyond overly power-centered perspectives. In addition, this study suggests an alternative policy toward North Korea for neighboring states beyond the dichotomy of containment and engagement policy. Using textual data from North Korea regarding the geographical construction of its national identity and state interests, this study proposes a theoretical framework which focuses on a weak nation-state ’s geopolitical agency, the relationship between geopolitical visions and codes, and the construction of territory for geopolitical discourses in a particular geopolitical context. The main findings of this study suggest that this theoretical framework provides a valuable perspective through which to understand how weak nation-states use geography to construct their national identity and state interests, and how the relationship between their geopolitical visions and codes changes over time. In particular, this study emphasizes the role of territorial construction in the way a weak nation-state naturalizes the concept of the state as an autonomous subject through nationalism and security discourse.
    [Show full text]
  • North Korea in Transition
    KOREA RESEARCH MONOGRAPH 16 INSTITUTE OF EAST ASIAN STUDIES UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT BERKELEY CKS CENTER FOR KOREAN STUDIES North Korea in Transition EDITED BY Chong-Sik Lee and Se-Hee Yoo sC^-\r^)s INTERNATIONAL AND AREA STUDIES Richard Buxbaum, Dean International and Area Studies at the University of California, Berkeley, comprises four groups: international and comparative studies, area studies, teaching programs, and services to international programs. INSTITUTE OF EAST ASIAN STUDIES UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY The Institute of East Asian Studies, now a part of Berkeley International and Area Studies, was established at the University of California at Berkeley in the fall of 1978 to promote research and teaching on the cultures and societies of China, lapan, and Korea. It amalgamates the following research and instructional centers and pro grams: the Center for Chinese Studies, the Center for Japanese Studies, the Center for Korean Studies, the Group in Asian Studies, and the East Asia National Resource Center. INSTITUTE OF EAST ASIAN STUDIES Director: Frederic E. Wakeman, Jr. Assistant Director: Joan P. Kask Executive Committee: Mary Elizabeth Berry Thomas Gold Thomas Havens Joan P. Kask Hong Yimg Lee Jeffrey Riegel Ting Pang-hsin Wen-hsin Yeh CENTER FOR CHINESE STUDIES Chair: Wen-hsin Yeh CENTER FOR JAPANESE STUDIES Chair: Mary Elizabeth Berry CENTER FOR KOREAN STUDIES Chair: Hong Yung Lee GROUP IN ASIAN STUDIES Chair: Robert Reed EAST ASIA NATIONAL RESOURCE CENTER Director: Frederic E. Wakeman, Jr. Cover design by Wolfgang Lederer Art by Sei-Kwan Sohn North Korea in Transition To Robert and Dee Scalapino with our thanks KOREA RESEARCH MONOGRAPH 16 INSTITUTE OF EAST ASIAN STUDIES UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT BERKELEY CKS CENTER FOR KOREAN STUDIES North Korea in Transition EDITED BY Chong-Sik Lee and Se-Hee Yoo A publicationof the Institute of East Asian Studies, Universityof Californiaat Berkeley.
    [Show full text]
  • The Consolidation of North Korea As a Nuclear Power Through the Leadership of Kim Jong Un1
    Austral: Brazilian Journal of Strategy & International Relations e-ISSN 2238-6912 | ISSN 2238-6262| v.5, n.10, Jul./Dec. 2016 | p.48-70 THE CONSOLIDATION OF NORTH KOREA AS A NUCLEAR POWER THROUGH THE LEADERSHIP OF KIM JONG UN1 David Morales Martinez2 Cristian Pires Coelho Martins3 Introduction With the death of Kim Jong-il, on December 17, 2011, there has been a significant increase in the debate about the future of North Korea, specially related to its political system and the future of its nuclear program. The pro- cess of replacing the leader was fast and, his son Kim Jong Un immediately took over the power. The sudden death of Kim Jong Il wasn’t expected, since it was caused by a myocardial infarction and there was no process of leadership succession consolidated. Therefore, Kim Jong Un, considered young for the position (28 years), rose in December 30 to the position of Supreme Com- mander of the Korean People’s Army (KPA) and was officially installed as the supreme leader of the regime in April of 2012 (Kim 2012). During the Fourth Conference of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK), on April 11, 2012, Kim Jong Un was nominated First Secretary, therefore controlling all the hierarchical apparatus of the WPK. Two days later he was announced as the president of the National Defence Commission (NDC), su- preme organ in North Korea, becoming the official successor of his father and leading the main positions in the party (Kim 2012). This article aims to approach the implications of Kim Jong-Un con- solidation of power for North Korea nuclear question, running through the 1 This research had the support of CAPES/CNPq 2 Adjunct Professor of International Relations at Universidade Federal do ABC.
    [Show full text]
  • The Complexity of Cross-National Interactions on the North Korean Issue
    Major Research Paper The Complexity of Cross-National Interactions on the North Korean Issue Liliya Akhtemova 8182753 Research Supervisor Professor Yongjing Zhang March 22, 2017 Table of Content Abstract .......................................................................................................................................... 3 Chapter 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 4 The Actuality of the Study ........................................................................................................... 4 Purpose ....................................................................................................................................... 5 Research Question ...................................................................................................................... 6 Method ........................................................................................................................................ 6 Contribution ................................................................................................................................. 7 Structure ....................................................................................................................................... 7 Chapter 2 Theory and Approaches: Literature review .................................................................................. 9 Neorealism: Security on the Korean Peninsula and Nuclear Proliferation
    [Show full text]
  • Download PDF 199.33 KB
    Toal 1 Laurence Toal POL 350 / Independent Study Moon Fall 2012 Their Soviet Elder Brothers: The Soviet Union's Hand in Shaping Reunification Policy for East Germany and North Korea Introduction After the end of World War II, much of Europe and Asia was divided between the victorious Allies (the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and the Soviet Union). These dividing lines crossed countries such as Korea, Germany, and Vietnam, and even cities, as in the case of the strategic crown jewel of Berlin. The division of these countries, already troubling for citizens who found themselves not only living in a country with no national sovereignty to speak of and separated from friends and family, soon became major points of international contention and the United States and the Soviet Union formalized their positions as two rivals (later superpowers) with two very different economic and social systems. Germany became the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany, or the FRG) and the German Democratic Republic (East Germany, or the GDR). Korea became the Republic of Korea (South Korea, or the ROK) and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea, or the DPRK). From the perspective of the great powers, they were spoils of war, proxy states necessary in the battle to establish ideological supremacy across Europe and Asia. From their own perspective, the Germanys and Koreas were new, perhaps temporary states struggling to find their own new national identity in the wake of World War II's devastation and the ensuing division across arbitrarily drawn lines. Toal 2 As the twentieth century went on, however, things changed in ways the superpowers never envisioned, leading to an entirely new balance of power across Europe and Asia.
    [Show full text]