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SPP 296

Author: Richard Rose, Doh C Shin and Neil Munro
 
Description: The ideal democracy presents a paradox; it is desirable yet unattainable. In a new democracy, the gap between ideal and reality is likely to be especially great, for the public demands a full democracy, while inexperienced elites or holdovers from the old regime supply a more or less incomplete democracy. This paper analyzes data from the 1997 New Korea Barometer to see whether the public is more inclined to resolve tension by pressing demands for reform in order to make democracy better, or to become disillusioned and support undemocratic alternatives. Commitment to ideals is stronger than disillusion. The average Korean is very much in favour of the democratic ideal, but regards the reality of Korean government as only barely democratic. Analysis of the data shows that a majority of Koreans want to resolve tension by securing a better democracy--but this can only be achieved if the newly elected president of Korea is able as well as willing to supply it.

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