Impacts of Japanese Colonialism on State and Economic Development in Korea and Taiwan, and Its Implications for Democracy

Promoting democratization has taken the forefront of international diplomacy in ensuring world stability. Determining how best to promote democracy is challenging, and requires a keen understanding of a developing country’s history. Of particular importance is the country’s colonial legacy, and how this legacy continues after independence. This thesis examines the impact of the Japanese colonial period in Korea and Taiwan, and how economic and bureaucratic development in these countries subsequently was affected. Examining the institutions developed during this period in these countries will better allow policy-makers to formulate similar (though noncolonial)programs in other developing countries, and this will give these developing countries a much better chance at success during the period of democratization.