[DeCal] Groups presentation dates/topics/readings

*refer to required/recommended readings on spring 2010 syllabus! if there is no link provided you can try googling.. if that doesnt work, email! koreandecal10@gmail.com

GROUP 1: MARCH 9th

Eruption of Fissures: The Korean War as a Civil War (1945 – 1953)

Presentation: Civil War

Fissures in Korean society were not able to be reconciled as the Korean (Civil) War became just

a single battle and the opening shots of the larger, Cold War fought between the United States

and the Soviet Union. National reconciliation never occurred and this had profound implications in

the development of North Korea. 

GROUP 2: MARCH 16th

Divergence in Institutions Part I (South Korea)

Presentation: Divergence in Institutions I (South Korea)

Why is it that the southern half of the Korean peninsula came to be a fairly wealthy, middle

income country with democratic institutions? How did this process happen? After all, Korea was

for thousands of years a centralized bureaucratic monarchy (and then ruled by centralized

bureaucratic colonial government) with no history of democracy? The presentation will heavily

emphasize the development of economic institutions first that began in the early seventies.

Policies conducive to sustained economic growth over the long run that took advantage of

favorable endowments unique to South Korea (access to the U.S. market, U.S. oil regime) led to

prosperity in the South. Democratic institutions also took hold, but took much longer with South

Korea holding her first free and fair elections in 1987). 

GROUP 3: MARCH 30th

Divergence in Institutions Part II (North Korea)

Presentation: Divergence in Institutions II (North Korea)

How did the Korean War effect the development of North Korean institutions? How does North

Korea fit in historically into Korean history? Many of the peculiarities of the North Korean state

have a historical rationale behind it. The notion of North Korea being a hermit nation began only

after the Korean kingdom of Joseon was invaded by the Mongolians, Japanese, and then the

Manchurians. In more modern times, of course, the Sino-Japanese War, the Russo-Japanese

War, and even the Korean War were also largely fought to answer the question of who would

hold sway over the Korean peninsula. Xenophobia against even diplomats in Pyongyang also

holds a historical precedent during the Joseon dynasty when Ming diplomats were not allowed to

roam the streets without of a guide. 

GROUP 4: APRIL 6th

Famine

Presentation: Famine in North Korea and its after effects.

Presentation will briefly go over why the famine occurred in the first place, but emphasis will be

placed on how this has changed North Korean society permanently.