Overview

Using social movements as a prism to illuminate the oft-hidden history of 20th-century Korea, this book provides detailed analysis of major uprisings that have patterned that country's politics and society. From the 1894 Tonghak Uprising through the March 1, 1919, independence movement and anti-Japanese resistance, a direct line is traced to the popular opposition to U.S. division of Korea after World War Two. The overthrow of Syngman Rhee in 1960, resistance to Park Chung-hee, the 1980 Gwangju Uprising, as well as student, labor, and feminist movements are all recounted with attention to their economic and political contexts. South Korean opposition to neoliberalism is portrayed in detail, as is an analysis of neoliberalism's rise and effects. With a central focus on the Gwangju Uprising (that ultimately proved decisive in South Korea's democratization), the author uses Korean experiences as a baseboard to extrapolate into the possibilities of global social movements in the 21st century. Previous English-language sources have emphasized leaders-whether Korean, Japanese, or American. This book emphasizes grassroots crystallization of counter-elite dynamics and notes how the intelligence of ordinary people surpasses that of political and economic leaders holding the reins of power. It is the first volume in a two-part study that concludes by analyzing in rich detail uprisings in nine other places: the Philippines, Burma, Tibet, China, Taiwan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Thailand, and Indonesia. Richly illustrated, with tables, charts, graphs, index, and endnotes.

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9781604864571

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Reviews

Aided by insider accounts, [the book] offers a rich narrative of the unfolding events with rare insight into the inner dynamics and the emotional responses that characterize rare moments of insurgency. --Sun-Chul Kim, The Journal of Asian Studies Finally, for the first time in English, we now have a comprehensive overview of the remarkable waves of popular uprisings that have taken place in South Korea in the 20th century. With this volume, Katsiaficas challenges the eurocentrism of social movement scholarship and provides a radical reappraisal of the role of mass popular uprisings in contemporary history. --Eddie Yuen, coeditor, Confronting Capitalism George Katsiaficas, the prolific student of mass movements, offers an ambitious and well documented study of modern South Korean social movements. --Michael Munk, Socialism and Democracy The first volume of Asia's Unknown Uprisings is an important book [and] has been a long time coming. The scholarship and pen of George Katsiaficas has made it worth the wait. --www.counterpunch.org The first volume of George Katsiaficas' Asia's Unknown Uprisings is a comprehensive analysis of both the major and minor social movements that have shaped South Korea's long twentieth century. --John Eperjesi, Korea Journal Thirteen chapters explore major Korean uprisings from the 1894 Rice War to the 2008 Candlelight Protest, Jeju and Yeosun Insurrections, and the overthrow, assassination, and incarceration of Korean presidents. Recommended . . . it fills a void in English-language studies on Korea. --CHOICE

George Katsiaficas, the prolific student of mass movements, offers an ambitious and well documented study of modern South Korean social movements. --Michael Munk, Socialism and Democracy

This book makes a unique contribution to Korean Studies because of its social movements' prism. It will resonate well in Korea and will also serve as a good introduction to Korea for outsiders. By providing details on 20th century uprisings, Katsiaficas provides insights into the trajectory of social movements in the future. His world-wide field work experiences and surprising impacts in Korea are described well in this book. -- Na Kahn-chae, Director, May 18 Institute

The first volume of Asia's Unknown Uprisings is an important book [and] has been a long time coming. The scholarship and pen of George Katsiaficas has made it worth the wait. --www.counterpunch.org

Author Information

George Katsiaficas is a longtime activist for peace and justice--who was twice granted Fulbright fellowships--and the author of The Imagination of the New Left and The Subversion of Politics. He lives in Boston.

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