Political Theory

Re: Kim Jong-Un Westernizing NK After All

SkepticalMetal — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 16:36:01 GMT

Hey, if some Spaniard could do it, we can do it.

Re: Kim Jong-Un Westernizing NK After All

Wheylous — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 16:06:56 GMT

Oh boy, if we could somehow gain inside positions with North Korea and convince them to go full blown free markets.... :D

Re: Kim Jong-Un Westernizing NK After All

Prime — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 07:12:55 GMT

Jim Rogers is a god!

Re: Kim Jong-Un Westernizing NK After All

Anenome — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 01:43:50 GMT

Previously farmers were allowed to keep nothing over subsistence, so... progress.

Re: Kim Jong-Un Westernizing NK After All

Aristophanes — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 01:04:19 GMT

will allow farmers to keep as much as half of their crops

Baby Steps.

Re: Kim Jong-Un Westernizing NK After All

Andris Birkmanis — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 00:15:59 GMT

will allow farmers to keep as much as half of their crops

Hey, this tax rate is better than in many western countries!

Re: Kim Jong-Un Westernizing NK After All

HabbaBabba — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 22:58:58 GMT

Westernization indeed. You can keep half of what you work for.

Re: Kim Jong-Un Westernizing NK After All

SkepticalMetal — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 22:41:32 GMT

Eh, don't know if this counts as "westernization." I just think it's North Korea's inevitable realization that "juche" or whatever doesn't work and that permanant stability can only be found in privatization, NEVER in communism. China realized it, USSR found out the hard way, and Cuba is in the process of realizing it.

Re: Kim Jong-Un Westernizing NK After All

Marko — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 22:40:58 GMT

The proposed changes mimic China’s rural reform in the late 1970s and early 1980s,

Then it would seem he is sino-izing rather than westernizing.

Kim Jong-Un Westernizing NK After All

Anenome — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 22:02:43 GMT

Kim Jong-Un, the new 29 year old leader of North Korea, who was educated in Switzerland (where he apparently was the worst student ever :P), is estimated to have eliminated (killed) some 14 senior officials now, in order to consolidate his legitimacy and leadership of the country.

But which road will he take NK down? Today we may have an indication:

North Korea 'to debate major crop reforms

"North Korea's Supreme People's Assembly is expected to debate agricultural reforms that will allow farmers to keep as much as half of their crops when it convenes on Tuesday.

Analysts say the reforms are designed to increase agricultural output, reduce reliance on expensive imports, reduce malnutrition and halt rising food prices. Previously, farmers have been required to sell all their produce to the government which then distributes it to the population.

The move is a reversal of the crackdown on private production that was introduced by Kim Jong-il, the former North Korean leader, in 2005 and suggests that his son and heir, Kim Jong-un, is continuing reforms in an effort to improve the lot of the impoverished nation and its people.

The proposed changes mimic China’s rural reform in the late 1970s and early 1980s, when China allowed farmers to hold onto their surplus after meeting state quotas, said John Delury, an assistant professor at Yonsei University in South Korea..."