Kim Il-Song of North Korea
1967; University of California Press; Volume: 7; Issue: 6 Linguagem: Inglês
10.2307/2642612
ISSN1533-838X
Autores Tópico(s)Korean Peninsula Historical and Political Studies
ResumoFor nearly two decades, Kim Il-song has been the chairman of the Korean Worker's Party, the Premier of the Democratic Republic of Korea, and the Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army. There can be no doubt that he is the supreme ruler of North Korea. He has not only successfully skirted various attempts to unseat him, but displayed considerable agility and skill in manipulating internal and intrabloc discord. Kim is indeed a man with an instinct for power and survival. And yet, few dictators in modern history have had so much difficulty in having their credentials accepted. If charisma involves a widespread and spontaneous acceptance of the leader's political legitimacy, Kim Il-song did not possess this quality when he was enthroned in 1945. Whether the intensive propaganda campaigns launched on his behalf after 1945 produced any meaningful change is still a matter for conjecture.
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