Postgraduate Course: Political Economy of Korea's Development (ASST11112)
Course Outline
| School | School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course familiarises students with the political economy of Korea and the East Asian region. The miracle on the Han river and the quest for economic democratisation have become commonly used expressions to refer to economic developments on the southern part of the Korean peninsula. What are the historical and local roots of this processes? What were the legacies of external factors, from colonial rule and externally-driven modernisation to post-war reconstruction and state-led development? Why was North Korea richer than South Korea for the first two decades after the war? How do Korea-specific economic issues connect with global trends, trade, finance and globalisation? How are markets transforming North Korea? This course uses these questions and issues as vantage points to reflect on the role of states, markets and social forces (local and international) in shaping the history, economy and development of the Korean peninsula.
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| Course description |
The course familiarises students with the economies of the two Koreas and embeds their strategies of economic development in a broader comparative perspective. After an initial introduction to the Korean economy in pre-colonial times, the feature and impact of colonial rules are discussed. The central part of the course focuses on the rise and demise of the socialist economy in the North, and state-led models of economic development, the impact of the Asian financial crisis and the introduction of neo-liberal policies in the South. Themes discussed include the role and importance of large industrial conglomerates (Chaebols), the evolution of labour union and social contention, and their role in the demise of authoritarian rule and post-democratisation period. The last part of the course discusses the rise of polarisation and inequality in South Korean society and the emergence of informal marketisation in North Korea.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- familiar with economic history of Korea and East Asia.
- develop critical thinking skills and employing them in their research.
- have firm grasp on the basic debates about politics and economic performance in Asia.
- explain the impacts of economic reforms on the society.
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Reading List
Essential:
Amstrong, C. Eds. (2006) Korea at the center: Dynamics of regionalism in North East Asia, NY: M.E. Sharpe.
Shin, G. W. and Robinson, M. Eds. (2000) Colonial Modernity in Korea, Cambridge: Harvard University.
Primary:
Kim, H.A. (2004) Korea's Development under Park Chung Hee: Rapid industrialization 1961-79. New York: Rountledge Cruzon.
Jang, H. J. (2008) Bad Samaritans: Rich Nations, Poor Policies and the Threat to the Developing World, London: Random House.
Kim, B and Vogel, E. Eds. (2011) The Park Chung Hee Era: The Transformation of South Korea, Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
Secondary:
Blankenburg, S. and Palma, J. G. (2009) Introduction: the global financial crisis, Cambridge Journal of Economics, 33(4): 531-538.
Crotty, J. (2009) Structural causes of the global financial crisis: a critical assessment of the new financial architecture, Cambridge Journal of Economics, 33: 563-580.
Koo, H. (2001) Korean Workers: The Culture and Politics of Class Formation, Ithaca: Cornell University Press.
World Bank (1993) The East Asian Miracle: Economic Growth and Public Policy, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Woo-Cumings, M. Ed. (1999) The Developmental State, Ithaca: Cornell University Press. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
*Think critically and produce Masters-level work under pressure.
*Work independently, seeking relevant advice and support when necessary.
*Understand, interpret, and use scholarly resources.
*Gain global perspectives on the subject.
*Work on digital product development with confidence. |
| Special Arrangements |
Jointly taught with UG |
| Keywords | developmental state,corruption,rent-seeking,neo-liberal reform,labour union,market socialism |
Contacts
| Course organiser | |
Course secretary | Miss Charlotte McLean
Tel: (0131 6)50 4114
Email: cmclean9@exseed.ed.ac.uk |
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