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초록
Several studies have recently emphasized a historic turn in Korean party studies toward a more self-referential party study. This article attempts to contribute to a historic turn by revisiting the macro-historical approach to Korean parties by focusing on research agenda and methodological issues. Thus far, macrohistorical approach has interpreted history of Korean parties by comparing it with Western European experiences of mass based parties. In contrast, this article argues that such research agenda should be expanded by comprising various dimensions like the impact of preemptive growth of the state and its impact upon the underdevelopment of political parties. It also should be closely examined how the underdeveloped parties have struggled to mobilize electorates support and to legitimize electoral politics to a limited extent. By addressing these issues, the historic turn would help to bridge the gap between self-referential study and historical approach. Also the methodological tenet of macro-historical perspective should be revised. The extant macro-historical perspective has mainly engaged in comparing Korean experiences with those of Western European history which resulted in focusing only on the failure of the rise of mass based parties in Korea. This article suggests that comparing Korean historical trajectory with those of Latin American democracies would yield more relevant and meaningful analysis. As Korean and Latin American democracies share several key elements in the evolution of political parties, such comparative research strategy would contribute to theorizing new democracies’ party politics as well as to enhancing our understanding of our own party histories.