East Asian Democracy
In this course we will survey the development of democratic institutions in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and China. Japanese democracy has been characterized by decades of dominance by Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). What were the causes of LDP dominance and what future challenges does the party face? South Korean democracy descended into authoritarianism and violence before democratic consolidation. In Taiwan, ethnic discrimination fueled opposition to the Kuomintang, culminating in a "bloodless" transition to democracy. Retrocession to Chinese rule undermined Hong Kong's democratic institutions. However, mass protest has recently invigorated the Hong Kong democracy movement. Democratization at the township and village level in China has helped to reduce endemic corruption. Will the Chinese Communist Party broaden the scope of democratization or retain its monopoly on political power? 3 hrs. lect./disc. (Comparative Politics)/