South Korea’s Navigation of Authoritarianism in a Democratic World

Since South Korea’s democratization in 1987, much scholarly research has been devoted to asking questions about South Korea’s authoritarian past which could not be investigated at the time. Such research has mainly sought to classify previous regimes: are they authoritarian or not, what policies were authoritarian and how, or if they were how they contributed in the end to democratization. However, little research has focused on how these authoritarians had to exist in a democratic world. Initially as a member of the US-centered first world, and then in a post-Cold War international society in which democracy was the only legitimate means of establishing a government (regardless of whether actual democratic institutions existed), South Korean regimes have had to frame its policies as if it were democratic—convincing its domestic constituents, its first world allies, and its foes as well. In post-1987 South Korea, conservative political groups with historical linkages to authoritarian leaders have had to recast themselves has contributors to democracy rather than hinderances to democratization. This panel investigates the different ways in which South Korean governments and civil society have had to navigate authoritarianism in a democratic world. By doing so, it is expected this panel and research can contribute to understanding how authoritarian governments today may be navigating a world in which, despite being undemocratic, democracy is the only game in town.