"This book satisfies a deep curiosity about how Korea, an economic giant, has become a democratic giant as well. We are given a sharp social policy analysis of how political democracy has evolved out of economic prosperity under one and the same state. We become deeply embedded in Korea's history and governance, but we are never in danger of becoming lost. This is a landmark study on the long road towards the de-colonized world's development and democratization." -- Alice Amsden, PhD, Barton L. Weller Professor of Development Economics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology "The Korean State and Social Policy will change many people's understanding of South Korean development, demonstrating as it does how the foundations for a modern welfare state were actually laid during the military dictatorship. This is highly recommended reading for anyone interested in the linkage between governance and development." -- Francis Fukuyama, PhD, Olivier Nomellini Senior Fellow, Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, Stanford University "The Korean State and Social Policy demystifies false assumptions about authoritarianism in South Korea.

The Korean 'miracle' was consciously manufactured by developmental dictators mongering alliances not only with big chaebol but also with civil society. Social welfare and Saemaul movements mobilized followership from below to effectively implement the modernization project. The authoritarian state sowed the seeds of its own demise and laid the groundwork for democratization by successfully building an embryonic welfare state. The democratic transition in Korea did not originated from a 'crisis of failure' but from a 'crisis of success' in the authoritarian state." -- Hyug Baeg Im, Korea University "This important book examines the historical evolution and current features of the Korean state. The authors' insightful analysis makes a significant contribution to the literature. It has major implications for the study of social policy and social development in other countries and should be widely consulted." -- James Midgley, University of California, Berkeley "This outstanding and pathbreaking book could not have come at a better time.

It places social policy at the center of the political economy of development." -- Thandika Mkandawire, London School of Economics "There is no doubt that The Korean State and Social Policy moves our understanding of Korean success forward by going beyond the one-sided view of early economic- policy-driven development proposed by the state-business account. Especially because of the book's arguments about 'mixed governance' and 'social-policy analysis of an authoritarian regime', it should be regarded as a must-read for those interested in democratic transition and consolidation, the nature of authoritarian governance, social policy development, and state analysis." -- Jaemin Shim, University of Oxford, Czech Sociological Review.