제16대 총선과 한국 지역주의 성격

초록

This article critiques three arguments raised during the 16th Congressional Election and aims to show the characteristics of Korean regionalism. The first argument contends that there was no clear electoral issue involved. But it is comprehensible that "candidate certification" and the "power struggle between regions" issues had explicit impact on the election results. Another argument, stemming from the rational choice model, does not seem to verify that regional separation would deepen in the absence of clear policy differences between major parties. The third argument proffers that there may be the possibility of political realignment along with ideological cleavage. In reality, the ideological division found in Korea nearly coincides with the clear regionalism and regional voting behavior tends to be legitimized by regionally inclined ideology and policy orientation. As a result, the exclusive regionalism of Korea will likely become more serious and used as an ideology that persuades, controls and oppresses the voters' political will.

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