In this key textbook, Michael J. Seth offers an excellent synthesis of
existing scholarship, including a thorough examination of contemporary
sources. Seth masterfully traces how North Korea gradually transformed
itself from a Soviet-style socialist state to an ultra-nationalist,
dynastic one, illuminating this journey with an engaging understanding
of the political, ideological, economic and social forces at play.
Throughout, Seth adds a rich dimension by placing North Korean history
into broader global perspective and considering the implications for the
future of the country.
With a helpful glossary and an exhaustive bibliography, this clear and
accessible overview is an ideal text for students of North Korean
history, and for anyone with an interest in the evolution of this
uncommon nation.