State Security and Regime Security: President Syngman Rhee and the Insecurity Dilemma in South Korea, 1953-60

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Overview

This book examines the interaction between state security and regime security in South Korea under the leadership of President Syngman Rhee in the period 1953-60. In examining the reasons which led Rhee to repeatedly call to "march North," such as to remove the Communists and to empower Korea in the aftermath of the Korean War, the author shows that the "march North" was a manifestation of Rhee's concern for both state and regime security. Rhee's aggressive anti-Communist policy contributed to the promotion of security in South Korea. As he declined in popularity, Rhee's concern for the survival of the regime increased and he used the prevailing anti-Communist feeling to enhance his legitimacy. However, such tactics could ensure neither regime security nor the security of South Korea.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780312217662
Publisher:	Palgrave Macmillan UK
Publication date:	02/01/1999
Series:	St Antony's Series
Edition description:	2000
Pages:	232
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.68(d)

About the Author

Yong-Pyo Hong is Research Fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification, Seoul.

Table of Contents

Preface
• Introduction
• Historical Setting: The Division of Korea, Korean War, and the Evolution of Syngman Rhee's Anti-Communist Policy
• The Ending of the Korean War and Syngman Rhee's Search for a US-ROK Mutual Defense Treaty, April-August 1953
• The Post-Armistice Security Policy of Syngman: The Strengthening of ROK Forces, September 1953-November 1954
• Internal and External Challenges to the Rhee Regime Security, November 1954-May 1956
• The Primacy of Regime Security and the Vulnerability of State Security, May 1956-November 1958
• The Domestic Use of State Security and the Collapse of the Rhee Regime, December 1958-April 1960
• Conclusion: the Insecurity Dilemma in South Korea
• Bibliography
• Index

Editorial Reviews

Drawing on documents declassified in 1994 and other archives, Hong (Korea Institute for National Unification, Seoul) argues that the post-Korean War "march north and unify Korea" policy was a manifestation of President Rhee's concern for state and regime security as well as an attempt to remove the Communists. The author provides a conceptual overview of security in developing states; discusses the historical setting of Rhee's policy; and details the collapse of his regime following the 1956 presidential election. The cover shows Presidents Rhee and Nixon together in 1954. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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