Impacts of Japanese Colonialism on State and Economic Development in Korea and Taiwan, and Its Implications for Democracy

摘要

Promoting democratization has taken the forefront of international diplomacy in ensuring world stability. Determining how best to promote democracy is challenging, and requires a keen understanding of a developing country's history. Of particular importance is the country's colonial legacy, and how this legacy continues after independence. This thesis examines the impact of the Japanese colonial period in Korea and Taiwan, and how economic and bureaucratic development in these countries was subsequently affected. Examining the institutions developed during this period of colonialism in these countries will better allow policy makers to formulate similar (though non- colonial) programs in other developing countries. This will give these developing countries a much better chance of success in state development, economic growth, and democratization. The Asian countries that experienced the Japanese colonial system -- one that was more intrusive and more focused on complete modernization and transformation than other systems -- appear to have been the most successful countries in developing modern states and economies (i.e., South Korea and Taiwan). In comparison, the former French Indochina colonies (i.e., Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos), the former British colony of Malaya (which included Singapore), and the former Dutch colony of Indonesia have each experienced varying levels of success in state development, economic growth, and democratization, yet none has reached the success of South Korea and Taiwan in any of these areas. While there are undoubtedly many reasons for these results, this paper will show that the Japanese colonial influence played a key role by altering the trajectory of modernization in Korea and Taiwan to create successful, modern, industrial states.