Alice Amsden made an important contribution to the literature on
development/South Korea. At the risk of oversimplifying that contribution
it was to forcefully demonstrate that the state played a decisive role in
the rapid growth and industrial transformation of South Korea. Her work
challenged
Marty wrote:
And it is hard to see how greater freedom for
domestic and foreign capital to move money and operations is going to
promote a more domestically centered, nationally controlled, worker
centered, stable economy.
Do you mean by a "nationally controlled, worker centered,
What's your diagnosis of the recently-formed independent trade union-based
political party in S. Korea ? (I forget its name or acronym). From what I
understand it is pitching a cross-class appeal and is more or less social
democratic in its platform. If the financial crisis spells crisis for each
No, I did not meant a greater North Korea. North Korea is certainly not
my model of socialism. But I do think a process of reunificaiton that is
shaped by progressive forces looking for a way out of the crisis in both
North and South could well open up possibilities for the creation of a
I asked Amsden if she wanted to tell us anything about Korea. She is on
sabbatical, so she just said to look at her op ed piece:
Section A; Editorial Desk
Behind Korea's Plunge
By Alice H. Amsden and Yoon-Dae Euh
11/27/97
The New York Times
Late Edition - Final
Page 39, Column 1
c. 1997
