Reassessing North Korea's Sustainability through the Lenses of Path Dependency Theory

Abstract

Abstract

The main objective of this dissertation is to gain a better understanding of North Koreas regime resilience. This dissertation examines the sustainability of the Kim regime through the lenses of Path Dependency. Specifically, the dissertation conducts comparative case studies to compare and contrast the Ceausescu regime of Romania and the Kim regime. The comparison is particularly useful for identifying key variables that helped the Kim regime survive while the Ceausescu regime collapsed. The dissertation identifies reform decisions and geopolitical environment as the key variables that determined the different fates of the regimes. The dissertation argues that Ceausescus decision to implement an isolationist policy and its unfavorable geopolitical environment led to the collapse of the regime. On the other hand, the Kim regimes decision to initiate limited reforms and its favorable geopolitical environment during its critical juncture helped sustain the regime.