The Two Faces of North Korean State Power

Abstract

Approaches to the analysis of North Korean socialism that have been influenced by theories of totalitarianism emphasise the Stalinist aspects of state power in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). I suggest a new understanding of power dynamics and state-society relationships in the DPRK by revealing the two faces of North Korea's state power. Using archival evidence and the testimonies of defectors, I reveal the micro-political face of power that can be found in people's everyday practices during times of national crisis.