IS THERE A DEVELOPMENTAL THRESHOLD FOR DEMOCRACY? Endogenous factors in the democratization of South Korea

Democracy as an advanced form of politics is not independent from socioeconomic development. This paper examines the developmental threshold for democracy, namely a point in the development process beyond which democracy can be effectively installed and sustained. Based on the two research trends on the issue, a framework of democratic transformation is proposed where two essential factors of social structure and political culture define such a threshold. Modernization and industrialization dramatically change the power balance in the society through creating new classes in support of democratic transition. Their attitudes and preferences undermine the traditional agrarian relationships and generate a new set of political values and orientations that usher in democracy. When the pro-democratic force begins to dominate in number, political transformation will take place. To illustrate this, South Korea’s democratization is studied in some detail. In addition, using the concept of the threshold of criticality, an attempt is made to identify the timing of such a threshold. However, collaboration between sociologists and political scientists is needed before such prediction can be made more precise.