Opportunities and Constraints to Democratic Consolidation in South Korea

Abstract

This paper analyzes the enabling and confining conditions for democratic consolidation. First, the modalities of democratic transition that have long lasting impact upon consolidation process are investigated. Then opportunities and constraints that Korean new democracy has been facing. Korean new democracy enjoys prosperous economy, ethnic homogeneity, religious peace, effective state, and civilian control over the military. Nevertheless, Korean new democracy is laden with many obstacles such as low institutionalization of political society, weak constitutionalism, underdevelopment of civil' society, and external security vulnerability. Overall, factors working for democratic consolidation are overwhelming the countervailing obstacles compared to new democracies in Latin America and Eastern Europe.