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The Global Economic Crisis, Dual Polarization, and Liberal Democracy in South Korea
Globale Wirtschaftskrise, doppelte Polarisierung und liberale Demokratie in Südkorea
[journal article]
Abstract This paper aims at a theoretical reflection on and an empirical analysis of the relationship between the global economic crisis and liberal democracy in South Korea. For this, we elaborate the concept of dual polarization and construct a model of path analysis which includes such variables as socio-... view more
This paper aims at a theoretical reflection on and an empirical analysis of the relationship between the global economic crisis and liberal democracy in South Korea. For this, we elaborate the concept of dual polarization and construct a model of path analysis which includes such variables as socio-economic and political-ideological cleavage, political party affiliation, ideological orientation, economic (crisis) outlook, and support for an autocratic presidential rule as potential threats to liberal democracy. Descriptively, the paper examines how liberal democracy has unfolded and where South Korea stands today with regard to the quality of her democracy. Analytically, the paper examines where the potential threat to liberal democracy comes from based on a general population survey in Korea from 2014. The major findings of our analysis include: 1) The support for autocratic presidential power is stronger among citizens than among MPs. 2) Political party affiliation, ideological orientation, and economic (crisis) outlook are closely interrelated and significantly affected by the political-ideological cleavage. All independent variables contribute to explaining support for an autocratic presidential rule. 3) Yet there also exists strong support for a democratic regime among both MPs and citizens.... view less
Keywords
South Korea; economic crisis; impact; democracy; polarization; socioeconomic effects; political development; public opinion; political elite; Far East
Classification
Political Process, Elections, Political Sociology, Political Culture
Free Keywords
liberal democracy; political-ideological polarization; autocracy
Document language
English
Publication Year
2018
Page/Pages
p. 274-299
Journal
Historical Social Research, 43 (2018) 4
Issue topic
Challenged Elites - Elites as Challengers: The Impact of Civil Activism, Populism and the Economic Crisis on Elite Structures, Orientations and Agendas
ISSN
0172-6404
Status
Published Version; peer reviewed