Wither developmentalism after democratisation?

This chapter argues that the introduction of democracy contributed to the development and deepening of social welfare regimes in industrial East Asia. It focuses on Taiwan and Korea, as they are often evoked as paradigmatic examples of the Asian developmental state, economic growth and democratic transition. The Liberal Democratic Party in Japan underwent a similar process shortly after democracy was introduced after the war, and its experience is instructive. With democratization, however, the bureaucracy came to play a much more significant role in social policy agenda setting, policymaking and implementation. In Korea, organizations such as the Citizens’ Coalition for Economic Justice, the Peoples’ Solidarity for Participatory Democracy and the Women’s Associated United played critical, agenda-setting roles in health and pension reform after democratic transition. Social movement influence increased for a variety of reasons beyond just the political opening afforded by democratization. Social movement organizations mobilized the citizenry and voters.