정치민주화의 삶의 질: 연구의 종합 및 이론적 조명

Abstract

AbstractSouth Korea has made a remarkable progress in democratization over the last ten years. Despite this, institutions of democracy do not function effectively enough to meet the rising level of citizens' expectations. The majority of its people still do not believe that the process of democratization has greatly improved their lives. South Korea's new democracy faces many challengers. First, government performance and policy effectiveness need to be upgraded to meet citizens' expectations. Second, reform drives and democratization program have to be better coordinated so as to improve the quality of life of the general populace. Third, the values, goals and norms of democracy need to be firmly rooted in the cultural orientation and behavior patterns of the people. In addition, the future of Korean democracy largely depends on whether it secures social and economic bases to achieve peaceful unification of the two Koreas, and ultimately encompass the North Korean people in democratic polity.