PARTIES IN TRADITIONAL KOREA: ORIGINS AND DEVELOPMENT

The author analyses the problem of forming of party origins in traditional Korea society. The research on proto-party groups began from the period of the Three Kingdoms of Korea (1 c. BC - 7 c. AD) when different clans or different pretenders of one clan struggled between each other. Due to the absence of a centralized government a lot of great families tried to seize the power. At that time some traditions of proto-party groups were formed: the tendency of regionalism and short periods of a political group cycle. During the Kingdom of Goryeo (10 - 15 centuries) the practice of military take-overs was formed. These experiences of military take-overs were sealed in people's memory, became the base for its following use in political practice and formed the image of the special military mission in Korean history. Also at that time a new social class was formed: it consisted of small and middle officialdom from province. In the middle of the 14 century two political groups struggled: they differed in social base (old aristocrats with land and new bureaucracy), in ideology (Confucianism and Neo-Confucianism), in view on the government structure. Despite the new level of proto-party groups, the methods of political struggle were similar to those in the past: denunciations, assassinations, coups d'états. The factionalism, or the party was one of the most typical features in the Joseon's dynasty (1392-1897). The party became the new pattern of the political culture of traditional Korea. The party had its followers. It was of influence not only in the capital but also in the provinces. The institute had an amorphous structure consisting of the core (the most influential and established yangban) and some clienteles. The cause of the party differentiation was the struggle for government posts. As a result of traditional political groups and parties research we can emphasize the following features of the oriental party: the absence of difference of opinions on domestic policy (the causes of conflicts between parties were international affairs or ethics and philosophy discussions); the social base of the party consisting of aristocrats and bureaucracy (the patron-client system). The key goals of such a party were the influence on the king or receiving the top appointment. The final feature is its weak institutional structure: splits were frequent because of internal tensions.

Keywords

Authors

References