Ok, if your head was totally absorbed by the trivia of our lives or full of facts, figures, dates, arguments, and names (as my students' heads should be during finals) you may have missed it: Kim Jong Il is dead. As Fred Sanford would say, "It's the big one," a heart attack at age 69 (or 70 if you accept the Russian history of No. Korea) leveled Kim Jong Il on Saturday Dec 17, 2011. I refuse to say anything good about Kim Jong Il and hence I seem to make light of his demise. I feel for his family because as far as I can tell, Kim Jong Il is spending eternity in hell--not something I desire for anyone. Of course, the big question for everyone, including those people who actually focus on East Asia and North Korea particularly, is now what?
Kim Il Song turned North Korea into a hereditary authoritarian state (claiming of course to be a communist workers' paradise). Kim Il Song brought Kim Jong Il into the leadership of the state 20 years before Kim Il Song died. Kim Jong Il has not done the same for his annointed successor--Kim Jong-Un. See Kim Jong Il had three sons by two different mothers. The oldest is a playboy who prefers to spend his time in Macao (think Las Vegas in China) and even got arrested trying to sneak into Japan to go to Disneyland. The middle son was referred to as "girlish and girly" by Kim Jong Il. So, Kim has appointed his youngest son as heir apparent.
Kim Jong-Un is a 20 something who about three years ago began to get serious attention in the media and in intelligence circles. In 2010 Kim Jong-Un was made a 4 star general and appointed to the National Defense Council and a leadership position in the Korean Worker's Party. He was educated in Switzerland (The International School of Berne) and the Kim Il Sung Military Academy in Pyongyang. Questions abound about his qualifications and whether or not he has the connections and the respect of the establishment necessary to rule over North Korea.
Likely challengers if any are few. However, there is the uncle Jang Song-thaek, who was instrumental in helping run the country during Kim Jong Il's illnesses until being swept aside a few years back. However, Jang was reinstated to several key positions last year. Could government by committee with Jang as regent happen until Kim Jong-Un is really ready to run the country? Well, we can all wait and see is all I can say about it.
Anytime I think about authoritarian transitions I think about the famous family of film--the Corleone Family. When the Don dies, who inherits the Family? Not the big brother (Sonny was gunned down remember), which leaves the middle son (Fredo) and the younger son (Michael). Oh, and what about the other players (Tattaglias and Barzinis exist everywhere). Now imagine this, Fredo wins...hmmm, not likely. Will Kim Jong-Un be the Michael Corleone of this show? Or will Tessio, Barzini, or Sollozzo show up to complicate the plans? Good stuff all around here, gives us something to think about and try to be the first on our block to be in the know about. Of course, this is just my two cents.
Kim Il Song turned North Korea into a hereditary authoritarian state (claiming of course to be a communist workers' paradise). Kim Il Song brought Kim Jong Il into the leadership of the state 20 years before Kim Il Song died. Kim Jong Il has not done the same for his annointed successor--Kim Jong-Un. See Kim Jong Il had three sons by two different mothers. The oldest is a playboy who prefers to spend his time in Macao (think Las Vegas in China) and even got arrested trying to sneak into Japan to go to Disneyland. The middle son was referred to as "girlish and girly" by Kim Jong Il. So, Kim has appointed his youngest son as heir apparent.
Kim Jong-Un is a 20 something who about three years ago began to get serious attention in the media and in intelligence circles. In 2010 Kim Jong-Un was made a 4 star general and appointed to the National Defense Council and a leadership position in the Korean Worker's Party. He was educated in Switzerland (The International School of Berne) and the Kim Il Sung Military Academy in Pyongyang. Questions abound about his qualifications and whether or not he has the connections and the respect of the establishment necessary to rule over North Korea.
Likely challengers if any are few. However, there is the uncle Jang Song-thaek, who was instrumental in helping run the country during Kim Jong Il's illnesses until being swept aside a few years back. However, Jang was reinstated to several key positions last year. Could government by committee with Jang as regent happen until Kim Jong-Un is really ready to run the country? Well, we can all wait and see is all I can say about it.
Anytime I think about authoritarian transitions I think about the famous family of film--the Corleone Family. When the Don dies, who inherits the Family? Not the big brother (Sonny was gunned down remember), which leaves the middle son (Fredo) and the younger son (Michael). Oh, and what about the other players (Tattaglias and Barzinis exist everywhere). Now imagine this, Fredo wins...hmmm, not likely. Will Kim Jong-Un be the Michael Corleone of this show? Or will Tessio, Barzini, or Sollozzo show up to complicate the plans? Good stuff all around here, gives us something to think about and try to be the first on our block to be in the know about. Of course, this is just my two cents.
No comments:
Post a Comment