| Chapter : | Introduction |
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Finally, Zhebin suggests lessons that may be drawn from the preceding discussion, as well as possible policy responses from other nations toward the DPRK.
Chapter 9 explores the character of both Western public opinion regarding North Korea and the North Koreans’ perceptions of the West. Helgesen argues that these perceptions matter for the possibility of rapprochement between the two and that because culture changes slowly, the way to achieve the necessary change in perceptions is to include emotions in the cultural perspective. Helgesen ends with a discussion of the physiological roots of emotion, as illuminated by neuroscience, and calls the discipline of political science to bring emotion into its analyses as a way to achieve the empathy necessary for true dialogue. This contribution demystifies North Korea by shedding light on the barriers to communication between it and the West and by suggesting how these might be overcome.
Chapter 10 discusses the issues surrounding the transfer of power to the next Kim and argues that domestic policy considerations should not be downplayed when assessing the decision making of North Korea’s leaders, even with regard to something as apparently insulated as succession within a family dynasty. Alexander Zhebin outlines four factors that explain Kim Jong Il’s reluctance to publicly name an heir and then discusses the unity of the ruling elite when facing external forces, as well as the schisms within the elite with regard to domestic reforms. This chapter elucidates North Korea’s internal politics and goes far beyond considering merely the cult of personality surrounding the Kim family.
The analyses in this volume comprise a rich body of information and knowledge leading to the concluding remarks, in which Park places these chapters in the context of the current leadership transition to the third Kim, Kim Jong Un. Tracing the evolution of the DPRK’s leadership across three generations, the book’s final chapter highlights the importance of continuity for North Korea’s leadership and reinforces the importance of understanding the preexisting culture, ideology, and policies of the