Author : Jae Kwan Jung Journal : Korean Journal of Defense Analysis Publisher : Korea Institute for Defense Analyses Volume : 29(1) Publication Date : March, 2017 Abstract : Under what conditions can democracy emerge and survive in countries emerging from violent civil conflicts? Using event history analysis, this article shows that the chance for democratization increases substantially by the combination of two factors: whether a civil war ends through peace negotiations and whether United Nations (UN) peacekeeping forces are deployed after the signing of a peace treaty. Negotiated settlements or UN peacekeeping operations alone cannot resolve the security dilemma and credible commitment problems of civil war adversaries, which are the main obstacles to the transition from war to peace and democracy. Yet these factors have little to do with sustaining democracy in the aftermath of civil war. What matters most for the survival of democracy is rapid economic recovery that can⋯

Author : Jae Hyeok Shin Journal : Party Politics Publisher : Sage Publishing Volume : 23(2) Publication Date : March, 2017 Abstract : Most studies of candidate-centered electoral systems, that encourage politicians to seek personal votes, have focused on the impact of such institutions. This paper focuses instead on their origins in new democracies. It hypothesizes that voter demands for local and individual benefits and party access to government resources for such benefits are likely to lead politicians to choose a candidate-centered electoral rule during a transition to democracy. Cross-national quantitative studies of 97 new democracies from 1950 to 2008 support these claims, revealing that (1) the poorer the average voter, the more likely a candidate-centered electoral institution will be adopted and (2) where incumbent governing parties are more influential in selecting new rules, candidate-centered electoral systems are more likely to be selected. Nonetheless, (3) in highly developed countries even those governing⋯

Author : Hyeok Yong Kwon Journal : Korean Party Studies Review Publisher : The Korean Association of Party Studies Volume : 16(1) Publication Date : March, 2017 Abstract : This paper examines the effects of the government partisanship on real estates-related financial and regulatory policy choices and outcomes. We argue that the right-wing government pursues the expansion of real estates-related loans and deregulatory policies with the goal of boosting up the real estates price. Further, we posit that the rise of asset prices is associated with the decrease of the demand for redistributive and social welfare policies. Our statistical analysis of the panel data for the 16 OECD countries in the period 1980-2011 finds supporting evidence. Right-wing governments tended to be associated with the increases in household debts, housing prices, and the choice of deregulatory policies. Source link

Author : Shin-wha Lee Journal : The Journal of Asiatic Studies Publisher : Asiatic Research Institute, Korea University Volume : 60(1) Publication Date : March, 2017 Abstract : Non-military “new security” issues such as climate change, terrorism, cyber attacks, and humanitarian crisis has emerged as a serious security threats in the international relations of the 21st century. Furthermore, the interaction between such emerging security threats and traditional military/political security is increasingly becoming noticeable. For instance, global warming, trade disputes, and refugee flows causes armed conflicts within a state and/or inter-state conflicts. The Korean peninsula where geopolitical and military issues are have been the foremost concerns, is no longer an exception of such trends, but non-traditional, emerging security remains as a secondary concern to the Korean policy community. It should be noted that the complicated and unstable geopolitical security situations surrounding the Peninsula cannot be dealt with unless we examine the interaction of⋯

Author : Yang-Ho Rhee Journal : Journal of Middle Eastern Affairs Publisher : Institute of Middle Eastern Affairs Volume : 16(1) Publication Date : March, 2017 Abstract : The Arab Spring is one of the significant turning points in history, for it was the first democratic movement in the Arab world. Its beginning was filled with hope and delight, but eventually was overwhelmed by misery and despair just like the French Revolution. The theoretical debate views the cause of the Arab Spring with three different approaches. Some scholars believe it was political, economic, and cultural factors that led to the widespread discontent among people. Other scholars assert that the Arab Spring was triggered by the break-up of social contract which originally legitimized the authoritarian rule in exchange for the welfare favors given by authoritarian regime. The other scholars claim that a decrease in life satisfaction level due to economic stagnation was the main⋯

Author : Shin-wha Lee Journal : The 21st Century Political Science Review Publisher : 21st Century Political Science Association Volume : 27(1) Publication Date : March, 2017 Abstract : Global refugee crisis requires academic and policy approaches by which refugees are not only regarded as helpless victims but also as agents who cause economic, social, and ecological instability, and even inter-state conflicts. Although Europe faces the biggest refugee crisis since World War II, which are perceived as the greatest regional security challenge, more than 85% of global refugees reside in neighboring undeveloped countries where there are civil war, famine, poverty, and other problems similar to those of refugee-producing countries. If advanced countries attempt to tighten border security for their own national interest, they may secure stability in the short run, but ultimately bring about more serious consequences. Still, more states and local peoples tend to “securitize” refugee issues, remaining very passive about or⋯

Author : Hyeok Yong Kwon Journal : Korean Political Science Review Publisher : The Korean Political Science Association Volume : 51(1) Publication Date : March, 2017 Abstract : This paper explores the effects of assets and debts on citizen’s attitudes toward welfare policy. Most extant studies have focused on income and labor market status in explaining the support for the welfare state. Recent studies by Ansell (2012, 2014) have argued that housing assets reduce the support for social policy. In this paper we go beyond Ansell’s contribution by examining the effects of housing assets and household debts on individual attitudes toward welfare policy. We argue that a higher ratio of household debts vis-a-vis housing assets increases positive attitudes toward social policy. Our statistical analysis of Korea Welfare Panel Study and International Social Survey Program 2009 find supporting evidence. The results suggest that a higher ratio of household debts is associated with higher levels⋯

Authors : Yangho Rhee, Hyeok Yong Kwon, and Eunju Chi Journal : East and West Studies Publisher : Institute of East and West Studies, Yonsei University Volume : 29(1) Publication Date : March, 2017 Abstract : In 1986, Vietnam introduced capitalism through the Doi Moi reforms. Generally, socialism turns to capitalism, economic recession and inequality follows. However, transition economy in Vietnam produced high rate of economic growth without the aggravation of inequality. In addition, the poverty rate reduced rapidly during the reforms. These performances are different features from other transition economies such as post-communist countries and China. Contrary to Vietnamese case, the post-communist countries in the Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia experienced long economic recession and the aggravation of inequality. And China has been suffering from high level of inequality after economic reforms. This article examines the process of economic reforms in Vietnam, and then tries to figure out the reason⋯

Authors : Nam-Kook Kim Journal : Journal of European Union Studies Publisher : Institute for EU Studies, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies Volume : 45 Publication Date : February, 2017 Abstract : It is not easy to imagine reconciliation in the near future between Poland and Russia because of their long history of conflicts. What is the cause of such confrontation and why can t they find solution of exit from such antagonism? They have complicated records of invasion each other and animosity of citizens in two countries has reinforced through tragic affairs such as Katin massacre and Smolensk accident. To escape from the current impasse, Poland and Russia should acknowledge inevitability of coexistence in terms of geopolitical and historical perspectives. They should sit together and discuss misfortune of history refusing temptation to ignore or distort tragic past. This can be a starting point for reconciliation of two countries as shown in other⋯