On Korean dual civil society: Thinking through Tocqueville and Confucius

From Collaborative to Hegemonic Water Resource Governance through Dualism and Jeong: Lessons Learned from the Daegu-Gumi Water Intake Source Conflict in Korea

“…Dualism is the main concept to understand in relation to understanding South Korean society. Korean civil society has the unique characteristics of being a dual civil society with weak local membership, low social capital, and "national-democratic and moral-political enhancement of common citizenship" [32]. Kim (2010: 434) explains that dualism, in this case, relates to "the paucity of social capital in everyday life and the plethora of collective political actions in the national civil society."…”

“…Kim (2010: 434) explains that dualism, in this case, relates to "the paucity of social capital in everyday life and the plethora of collective political actions in the national civil society." This is because local voluntary associations have been curbed by the government and Confucian culture [32]. Korean civil society activity is usually based on large professional advocacy groups in Seoul, rather than in local areas [32].…”

“…This is because local voluntary associations have been curbed by the government and Confucian culture [32]. Korean civil society activity is usually based on large professional advocacy groups in Seoul, rather than in local areas [32]. They are also characterized as being part of a national alliance emphasizing public goods or the common interest [32].…”

“…Korean civil society activity is usually based on large professional advocacy groups in Seoul, rather than in local areas [32]. They are also characterized as being part of a national alliance emphasizing public goods or the common interest [32]. The Korean government's attitude toward NGOs is still reluctant [33] and NGOs tend to depend on the government rather than on partnership [34].…”

“…The Korean government's attitude toward NGOs is still reluctant [33] and NGOs tend to depend on the government rather than on partnership [34]. One of the main differences between the United States and South Korea is that U.S. advocacy civil society is a type of a pluralist model with "nationally franchised membership organizations" aiming to boost members' interests via lobbying political parties [32]. However, despite its weak local membership and low social capital, South Korean civil society is made up of "national alliances of a multitude of large and small civic groups" that support national democracy and moral politics for citizens, and this is called dual civil society [32].…”