Moral Authoritarianism

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Moral Authoritarianism offers a fresh perspective on the three modern Korean states—Japanese colonial rule, South Korea, and North Korea—by examining neighborhood associations during the war decades (1930s–1960s). Traditional historiography emphasizes their differences through political changes linked to imperialism and the Cold War. However, this work shifts the focus from national policy to local society, revealing deep similarities among the three states. Neighborhood associations, originating in the premodern Chosŏn period, regained significance when the colonial government established “patriotic neighborhood associations” in 1938 to mobilize local Koreans for its war efforts. By analyzing government documents and various sources, including diaries and newspapers, the book explores these associations as negotiation sites between families, local society, and the central government, highlighting a shared moral authoritarian structure. Colonial associations promoted state interests over individual rights, blurring the lines between morality and authority while imposing patriarchal dynamics. Despite differing ideologies, the neighborhood associations in post-liberation Koreas maintained a similar enlightenment mission, crucial for understanding the authoritarian paths of both nations. Ultimately, these associations facilitated state supremacy over communities, encouraging responses to state calls that led to the authoritarian