Scholarly+articles

Koh, B.C. "Ideology and Political Control in North Korea." The Journal of Politics 32.3 (1970):655-674. JSTOR. 8 May 2009 .

The author of this article, B.C. Koh, is a professor at the University of Chicago, so his writing probably carries at least some credibility. The stated goal of the article is to answer several questions about the ideaology of the North Korean government and the factors behind that ideology. The article is an analysis of what Kim Jong-il and his father, who is given lesser attention, have done or tried to do in North Korea to consolidate power, why they have done that, and through what means they have accomplished their goals. The article is written in a clear, easily understandable manner. The author clearly takes a dim view of Kim Jong-il and the North Korean government, but he successfully maintains at least a general objectivity, preventing the article from turning into a mere rant. This obviously connects to my thesis because it analyzes the factors behind North Korea's oppressive, dystopian society.