State Formation and Civil Society Under American Occupation: The Case of South Korea

Abstract

It is basic to examine the historical background in order to understand the social and political changes of contemporary Korea in connection with the origin of Koreas strong state. Focusing on the specific role of the US military government, the main purpose of this paper is to examine the social and political changes of South Korea under American occupation after the end of World War II. What were the characteristics of state formation under American occupation? What could account for this particular pattern and evolvement? For which direction was the civil society of Korea heading? What was responsible for the demobilization or reshaping of the civil society? How was the relationship between the state and civil society shaped? What kind of impact did it have on later Korean society? Answering these questions, this paper relates these issues with the historical origin of the strong or authoritarian state in Korea.