Labor and democratization in South Korea and Taiwan

Bibliographic Data

ID3986138
AuthorsY W Chu (0000-0002-4943-4964, University of Hong Kong, corresponding author), Yin-Wah Chu
Year1998
Volume28
Issue2
Pages185-202
Publication date1998-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Contemporary Asia (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0047-2336 • E-ISSN: 1752-7554
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/00472339880000121
OpenAlexW1982102177
LanguageEN
Citations received22
References cited37

The article examines the recent work by Rueschemeyer et. al. (1992) and revisits the classic issue of the social basis of democracy. It argues that Rueschemeyer et al. are biased in their definition of democracy, have focused too narrowly on the postures of individuals classes, and have produced a one-sided picture of the role of the workers in democratization. Using the experiences of South Korea and Taiwan, the article argues that the extent of workers's involvement in the democratic struggle depends on their experiences of state domination. The latter, in turn, is influenced by the workers' market positions and the nature of the labor regime in question. The article also argues that workers affect democratization in a macro-structural sense, both by influencing the agenda of the oppositional movement and by shaping the contour of socio-political conflict of society

Affect (linguistics · Democracy · Democratization · Development economics · Economic system · Economics · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Social movement · Sociology · State (computer science · Asian Industrial and Economic Development · Labor Movements and Unions · Law · Social Policy and Reform Studies