The dynamics of economic globalization and political development on the welfare state in South Korea

Abstract

The Korean welfare system has grown over the past 40 years from a limited and selective developmental system into a relatively comprehensive universal system. What explains this dynamic is the interplay between South Korea's global economic integration and its political transition from authoritarian rule to democratic governance. While the corporatist consensus under the authoritarian government limited social welfare to an instrument to promote economic growth and industrialization, the social democratic corporatist consensus under economic globalization has enabled the democratic regime to introduce a relatively universal welfare system.

Keywords:

• welfare state
• economic globalization
• democratic transition
• corporatism
• social democratic corporatism

Notes

^1. ‘Progressive’ means a relatively leftist ideology pursuing reform of the existing rightist state.

^2. The previous assistance programme excluded people of working age between 18 to 64 and their families.