Origins of North Korea's Juche: Colonialism, War, and Development2012

"For over five decades, North Korea has outlived many forecasts of collapse despite defects in its system. Origins of North Korea's Juche: Colonialism, War, and Development, edited by Jae-Jung Suh, argues that it has survived because of a unique political institution built on the notion of Juche, whose meanings and limits have been shaped by Koreans' experiences with colonialism, war, and development amid surrounding superpowers that have complicated their aspirations and plans. The authors in this volume collectively provide a historical institutionalist account of North Korean politics organized around the concept of Juche - commonly translated as self-reliance, but best understood as subjecthood or being a master of one's own fate. This volume traces the historical processes through...