Korean workers and neoliberal globalizationOne of the most remarkable aspects of South Korea?s transition from impoverished post-colonial nation to fully-fledged industrialized democracy has been the growth of its independent and dynamic labour movement. Korean Workers and Neoliberal Globalisation examines current trends and transformations within the Korean labour movement since the 1990s. It has been a common assumption that the ?third wave? of democratisation, the end of the Cold War, and the spread of neoliberal globalisation in the latter part of the 20 th century have helped to create an environment in which organised labour is better placed to overcome bureaucratic national unionism and transform itself into a potential counter-globalisation movement. However, Kevin Gray argues that despite the apparent continued phenomena of labour militancy and the rhetoric of anti-neoliberalism, the mainstream independent labour movement in Korea has become increasingly institutionalised and bureaucratised into the new capitalistdemocracy. This process is demonstrated by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions? experience of participation in various forms of policy making forums. Gray suggests that as a result, the KCTU has failed to mount an effective challenge against processes of neoliberal restructuring and concomitant social polarisation. The Korean experience provides an excellent case study for understanding the relationship between organised labour and globalisation. Korean Workers and Neoliberal Globalisation will appeal to students and scholars of Korean studies and International Political Economy, as well as Asian politics and economics. |
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Contents
Neoliberal globalization labour and resistance | 12 |
Globalization crisis and the entrenchment | 31 |
The rise and fall of militant labour unionism in Korea | 52 |
Copyright | |
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achieved anti-neoliberal argued authoritarian capital capitalist cent chaebol Chun Doo-Hwan co-optation context corporatism Cosatu Daewoo debate democratic labour movement despite developmentalism double transition economic and financial election emergence financial crisis FKTU Furthermore global civil society global South government and business government's grassroots historical Hyundai Motors ideological increasing industrial relations institutions interests international solidarity internationalism irregular workers ISMU issue KCTU KCTU leadership KCTU's Kim Dae-Jung Kim Se-Kyun Kim Young-Sam Korean labour movement labour and globalization labour laws labour market labour move labour unions layoffs liberalization ment militant labour militant unionism minjung NCTU neo-Gramscian neoliberal globalization neoliberal restructuring organized labour Park Chung-Hee participation programmes radical role sector social corporatism social forces social movement unionism social unionism social welfare South Africa strategy strike structure Sungch'on tion Trade Unions Tripartite Accord Tripartite Commission unionists wage Whilst workplace