1954: Two divided nations, both backed by America. 2024: One is a global power, the other doesn’t exist. What explains South Korea’s success and South Vietnam’s failure? A final comparative analysis.
Why did America ‘lose’ Vietnam? The wrong question. The real question: Why couldn’t South Vietnam build a state worth defending? The answer reveals hard truths about state-building’s limits.
The Jeju 4.3 incident killed up to 30,000 people. Why did the newborn ROK massacre its own citizens? An analysis of scorched-earth operations, the Northwest Youth, and the logic of state violence.
In 1948, the ROK faced legitimacy crises from the Jeju 4.3 uprising and Yeosu-Suncheon Rebellion. How did Syngman Rhee overcome these challenges? The role of UN recognition and suppression operations.
After liberation, 82% of South Korea’s police were former colonial officers. Why did the USMG make this choice? An analysis of the efficiency vs. legitimacy dilemma in state-building.
In 1946, rightist youth groups emerged to counter leftist forces. The Northwest Youth Association, Korean Democratic Youth League, and Korean National Youth – who were they, and what role did they play in state-building?