Book Reviews

Abstract

Hilton L. Root of King's College London and George Mason University reviews “Korean Political and Economic Development: Crisis, Security, and Institutional Rebalancing”, by Jongryn Mo and Barry R. Weingast. The Econlit abstract of this book begins: “Explores South Korea's transformation into a rich industrialized and democratic nation and considers the role of democracy in this process. Discusses the phenomena to be explained—three turning points in South Korea's modern history; an analytical framework for understanding South Korea's transition; leading up to South Korea's first transition—the crisis of 1960–61; initiating South Korea's transition—1961–79; the political economy of the democratic transition; democratic economic management in precrisis South Korea—democracy with limited pluralism, 1987– 97; the 1997 financial crisis—causes and subsequent reform; and the politics of economic policy under Roh Moo Hyun, 2003–08. Mo is Professor of International Political Economy in the Graduate School of International Studies at Yonsei University. Weingast is Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution and Ward C. Krebs Family Professor in the Department of Political Science at Stanford University.”