The Paradox of North Korea's Ideological Radicalism: Shaky Social Basis of Strengthening Ideological Campaigns

Abstract

IntroductionNorth Korea, the most isolated state in the world, regards itself as a dynasty and embraces a unique ruling ideology. The North defines itself as a Kim Il-Sung nation: the leader is worshipped as a deity and political power has been passed from the regime's founding leader (Kim Il-Sung) to his son (Kim Jong-Il). The political leader has absolute power over the entire society.Events that occur in the country often make no sense to outsiders. Indeed, North Korea's policies often seem hopelessly backward. Nevertheless, the regime has persisted, even under the devastating economic crisis of the 1990s.What, then, is actually happening in North Korea? Can the regime continue to survive in the future? Although it is difficult to evaluate the country's internal dynamics, due mainly to a lack of accurate information, this paper will show that signs of potential change have emerged within the Pyongyang regime. In particular, we will examine a seemingly paradoxical link between ideological change, stepped-up propaganda campaigns, and the shaky social foundation of state-society relations.Contemporary North Korea may be characterized ideologically as a social institutionalization of Juche ideology, which then shifted to the far-right Songun Jungchi (Military-first politics) and Kangsong Daekook (Strong and Prosperous State). Politically, it relies on a single stratum of leadership and rigid social management and control. The Juche ideology launched by Kim Il-Sung has long penetrated into every aspect of North Korean life, primarily via the bombardment of propaganda campaigns. The ideology has further radicalized into militarism during Kim Jong-Il's era, driving the country into a retrogressed garrison state.North Korea is a totalitarian state that intervenes and exerts control down to the family unit. There is no room for freedom or openness in the society. Despite the North's recent attempt to revamp its economy, a series of economic development plans have failed to achieve their goals.When comparing the Kim Jong-Il regime with that of his father, the main differences involve the ruling ideology and state-society relations. This paper focuses on the relationship between the ideological radicalization of the regime under Kim Jong-Il and the weakening of the regime's legitimacy. To put it differently, we are inter- ested in examining a puzzle: Specifically, why has this ideological radicalization, designed to bolster popular support for the leader and his policies, ironically weakened Kim's political legitimacy?North Korea had built a unique nation-state, separate from the former Soviet bloc and founded on its own ruling ideology. The North distanced itself from other socialist regimes during the collapse of the Soviet Union by focusing on the strength of that ideology. However, signs of a crumbling regime are emerging, with the weakening of ideology towards the garrison state and the far-right nationalism, on one hand, and the failure of the regime's ability to provide goods to its people, on the other.North Korea's Ruling Ideology and Its MetamorphosisThe polity of North Korea is based on Juche ideology. The origin of Juche doctrine is historically associated with the consolidation of Kim Il-Sung's regime. Since the Kim Il-Sung era, the Juche doctrine has become deeply institutionalized, has exerted a very distinctive form of influence on society, and has pervaded every level of North Korean life. Thus, to understand the country's behavior, Juche ideology must be elaborated in detail.The Juche idea emerged as a reaction to external and internal ideological disputes surrounding the Soviet Union and China, particularly the de-Stalinization of the Soviet Union after Stalin's death. Kim Il-Sung rejected de-Stalinization, mainly because his own ideological rhetoric and, thus, political legitimacy, were based on Stalinism. Meanwhile, North Korea increased its autonomy from Chinese intervention and Chinese influence on its domestic politics. …