Sem08 Presentacion Magistral Duncan

7/28/2019 Sem08 Presentacion Magistral Duncan

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Confucianism and EconomicDevelopment in South Korea

An Inquiry into the Conditions

Promoting the Growth of theSouth Korean Economy


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Introduction

Economic growth in J apan, Korea,

Taiwan, Hong Kong, & Singapore Similar growth not seen in other regions

All members of Confucian cultural sphere Arguments for Confucianism as

contributing factorToday a skeptical historians look


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Approach

Brief review of scholarly arguments re

Confucianism and capitalism Examination of specifics re South Korea


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Views of Confucianism and

CapitalismLate 19thearly 20th century

Disdain for commerce: 4 people model

Disdain for physical labor

Emphasis on metaphysical inquiry

Max Weber


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Views of Confucianism and

Capitalism (2)Late 20th, early 21st Centuries

In the West: Samuel Huntington, Tu Wei-MingHuntington: Culture Matters

Tu: Community of Trust based on family

Education, Self-cultivation

In the East:

Lee Kwan Yew: Asian Values

Shimada Kenji: Confucianism + Capitalism


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Economic Growth in South Korea

South Korea in 1950s

International basket case, foreign aid Per capita GDP under $200

Some modernization in cities 75% of population in farming villages

South Korea now

13th largest economy/per capita GDP $20,000

Industrialized, 90% in cities, very high tech


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Economic Growth in South Korea

(2) A Familiar Story

1961 Park Chung Hee takes power Economic Planning Board First 5-year Plan, export-led development

By late 1960s, exports of clothing, etc.

1970sKorea moves into heavy industry Steel plants

Shipbuilding

1980sKorea moves into high tech 1997Asian Financial Crisis

2000sKorea recovers quickly


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Explanations of Economic Growth

Colonial HeritageTutelage, infrastructure under J apanese Export led, chaebol (zaibatsu) model Problems: little tutelage, wartime devastation

Park Chung Hee Had vision, determination, personally incorruptable Problem: To explain Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore

Confucianism: Tradition and Modernity Group

Borrowed from Huntington, Tu, and others Added interesting twists: role of scholars Problems: Family backgrounds, 1997 Financial Crisis


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Problems with Confucian

Explanation Big picture

ConfucianismEmphasis on civil rule

Harmony over competition

Deprecation of commerce

South Korea under Park and Chun

Military dictatorshipsLip service to harmony, fostering of competition

Primary emphasis on commerce, industry


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Problems with Confucian

Explanation (2) Specific issues

The peopleConfucian minbon thought

Park, Chun oppress workers to keep wages low

EducationConfucian education generalist

S. Korean education specialized, technical

HierarchyConfucian hierarchy based on age, lineage, status

S. Korean chaebol based on military model


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S. Korean Economic Development

in Historical Perspective Key Events

1965 Korea-J apan Normalization Treaty Reparations,investment from J apan Expanding trade with J apan

--1965 Brown Memorandum

In return for S. K. participation in Vietnam War U.S. agrees to: Provide combat pay for S.K. soldiers Give important concessions to S.K. businesses

Hyundai, others build U.S. bases in Vietnam

Hanjin (KAL) provides transportation services Many other concessionspower plants, etc. Korea got experience, credibility, capital

1970s major construction contracts in Southeast, West Asia


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International Political Economy

Context Cold War Regime

Competition between West & Communist Bloc U.S. anxious to show market economy superior

Modernization theory, aid

U.S. particularly concerned re East Asia Wars in Korea, Vietnam, concern re J apan Heartland theory

U.S. gives open access to U.S. markets

Explains not only Korea, but all 4 tigers

1997: U.S. would not have allowed during Cold War


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Final Comments

S.Korean development a remarkable story

Not just U.S. Cold War Policy Also hard work by S. Koreans

Role of Nationalism, Social Darwinism Park Chung Hee used nationalism

But strong undercurrent of Social Darwinism

Both far from Confucian Koreans determined to avoid repeat of late

19th, early 20th centuries

Documents

Sem08 Presentacion Magistral Duncan