Over the past twenty years, South Korea has transformed itself from an authoritarian government into a new democracy with a vibrant capitalist economy. Modernization, democratization, and globalization have played an important role in this transformation, and have greatly influenced the programs and policies of Korea's Sixth Republic. Covering developments through the 2004 elections, this book shows how the South Korean government and society have been shaped not only by the dynamics of these forces, but also by their interaction with the cultural norms of post-Confucian society.

1: Introduction; 1: Historical Context; 2: Taking Culture Seriously; 3: Democratization by Launching the Sixth Republic of Korea (ROK); 4: "Reform Halfway Down?"; 2: Policy Patterns and Processes; 5: Responses to Globalization; 6: Global Political Economy and the Korean State; 7: Foreign Policy and Democracy; 3: Future Prospects; 8: New Democracy for Korean Society and Politics; 9: Transforming Korean Politics?; Transforming Electoral Politics Through Presidential Impeachment; Postscript