Politics of the North Korean Diaspora

The politics of the North Korean Diaspora explores how authoritarian security concerns shape global diaspora politics, tracing the recent emergence of a North Korean diaspora and arguing that the non-democratic nature of the DPRK homeland regime fundamentally shapes diasporic politics. Pyongyang perceives the diaspora as a threat to regime security and attempts to dissuade emigration, de-legitimize diasporic voices, and deter or disrupt diasporic political activity. This shapes the North Korean diaspora's perceptions of citizenship and patterns of diasporic political engagement, with émigrés internalizing many host country norms and playing important roles in host-country and global politics.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 102 pages
Publication date: 18 January 2024
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

The study of the North Korean Diaspora delves into the intricate interplay between authoritarian security concerns and global diaspora politics. Through empirical analysis, it traces the recent emergence of a North Korean diaspora, a globally dispersed population of North Korean émigrés. It argues that the non-democratic nature of the DPRK homeland regime fundamentally shapes diasporic politics. Pyongyang perceives the diaspora as a threat to regime security, employing various strategies to discourage emigration, de-legitimize diasporic voices, and deter or disrupt diasporic political activity. These tactics include extraterritorial violence and transnational repression. Consequently, they shape the perceptions of North Korean émigrés regarding citizenship and patterns of diasporic political engagement. North Korean émigrés have internalized many host country norms, particularly the civil and participatory dimensions of democratic citizenship, and have played significant roles in both host-country and global politics. This Element offers valuable new empirical evidence on the North Korean diaspora, sheds light on the overlooked role of regime type in shaping transnational and diasporic politics, and contributes to our understanding of the global impact of comparative authoritarianism.

Weight: 149g
ISBN-13: 9781009197281