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North Korea VS Absolutism
North Korea currently is ruled by a dictator: Kim Jong Un. His government wields absolute power, similar to Europe during the Age of Absolutism, where monarchs held absolute power just like Kim Jong Un today. Although with the different backdrop of time, the age of absolutism in North Korea today and Europe a few centuries ago are almost the same, except that the European states had once flourished under their monarchs who wield absolute power while North Korea has never flourished under the Kim family’s dictatorial rule.
After World War II, Korea, just like China, fell into a civil war. There were two sides: The North supported by the Soviet Union, and the South, supported by the United Nations backed by the United States when USSR did not attend the security council meeting and China was still represented by Chang Kai Shek’s KMT. Ultimately, the civil war ended when the North and South signed the 38th parallel agreement, although no official ceasefire agreement have been signed. The North fell under Kim’s communist, dictatorial rule, who claimed themselves god. North Korea today is known as the Hermit Kingdom due to the government’s implementation of isolation from the rest of the world to impose propagandas upon North Koreans. The Communist regime, unlike China, which has opened up the country to free trade in the 1980s, continue its communist economic system. Along with the heavy spending of North Korean budget on military, the country lacks well built infrastructure for its people who also suffer through famine regularly due to the lack of trade.
During the Age of Absolutism, the monarchs claimed that they wield divine rights, or in other words, their right to rule from god, just like North Korean dictators. Unlike North Korea, France, Spain, and Russia prospered under their monarch’s absolutistic rule. The monarchs spent much money, in which they earned from their American colonies or trade that flourished through reforms, on wars which expanded their state’s borders. Only through absolute monarchs was this possible, since these adept rulers who are shrewd at ruling, were able to push through social reforms that would take a long time to pass in a democratic system. Hence, these European states prospered under their absolute rules. Yet the system of “absolutism” itself is flawed, too. Although change could be catalyzed quickly, so does destruction. Under the system, heirs who were unskilled rulers, arrogant men who truly believed that they wield divine rights, continue to wield rights to rule, and spent money lavishly on building palaces and fighting wars whose success would not benefit their state. For examples, Louis XVI of France spent money to help the Americans fight off the British and become and independent state, while lavishly enjoying his life in the Versailles palace, built by Louis XIV with much money, too. Another example is when Spain sent a huge fleet, the Spanish Armada, bound for England, to fight the English, who ultimately defeated the Spanish. These absolute monarch’s huge spending drained their states’ national budgets, which in turn impoverished the state’s people, who would later over throw the government.
Overall, the absolute rule of North Korea and 15, 16, and 17th century Europe were similar. The rulers wield absolute power, had huge military budget, impoverished the people, and lived lavishly. But on the other hand, 15, 16, and 17th century Europe once flourished under the dictatorial rule, while North Korea always remained impoverished. North Korean borders have never expanded, and it has never fought any wars. Furthermore, North Korea was a Communist regime that followed communist ideologies that also isolated itself from the world, while the absolute monarchy in Europe allowed free trade and social disparity. Last, North Korea hasn't yet fall.
North Korea VS Absolutism
North Korea currently is ruled by a dictator: Kim Jong Un. His government wields absolute power, similar to Europe during the Age of Absolutism, where monarchs held absolute power just like Kim Jong Un today. Although with the different backdrop of time, the age of absolutism in North Korea today and Europe a few centuries ago are almost the same, except that the European states had once flourished under their monarchs who wield absolute power while North Korea has never flourished under the Kim family’s dictatorial rule.
After World War II, Korea, just like China, fell into a civil war. There were two sides: The North supported by the Soviet Union, and the South, supported by the United Nations backed by the United States when USSR did not attend the security council meeting and China was still represented by Chang Kai Shek’s KMT. Ultimately, the civil war ended when the North and South signed the 38th parallel agreement, although no official ceasefire agreement have been signed. The North fell under Kim’s communist, dictatorial rule, who claimed themselves god. North Korea today is known as the Hermit Kingdom due to the government’s implementation of isolation from the rest of the world to impose propagandas upon North Koreans. The Communist regime, unlike China, which has opened up the country to free trade in the 1980s, continue its communist economic system. Along with the heavy spending of North Korean budget on military, the country lacks well built infrastructure for its people who also suffer through famine regularly due to the lack of trade.
During the Age of Absolutism, the monarchs claimed that they wield divine rights, or in other words, their right to rule from god, just like North Korean dictators. Unlike North Korea, France, Spain, and Russia prospered under their monarch’s absolutistic rule. The monarchs spent much money, in which they earned from their American colonies or trade that flourished through reforms, on wars which expanded their state’s borders. Only through absolute monarchs was this possible, since these adept rulers who are shrewd at ruling, were able to push through social reforms that would take a long time to pass in a democratic system. Hence, these European states prospered under their absolute rules. Yet the system of “absolutism” itself is flawed, too. Although change could be catalyzed quickly, so does destruction. Under the system, heirs who were unskilled rulers, arrogant men who truly believed that they wield divine rights, continue to wield rights to rule, and spent money lavishly on building palaces and fighting wars whose success would not benefit their state. For examples, Louis XVI of France spent money to help the Americans fight off the British and become and independent state, while lavishly enjoying his life in the Versailles palace, built by Louis XIV with much money, too. Another example is when Spain sent a huge fleet, the Spanish Armada, bound for England, to fight the English, who ultimately defeated the Spanish. These absolute monarch’s huge spending drained their states’ national budgets, which in turn impoverished the state’s people, who would later over throw the government.
Overall, the absolute rule of North Korea and 15, 16, and 17th century Europe were similar. The rulers wield absolute power, had huge military budget, impoverished the people, and lived lavishly. But on the other hand, 15, 16, and 17th century Europe once flourished under the dictatorial rule, while North Korea always remained impoverished. North Korean borders have never expanded, and it has never fought any wars. Furthermore, North Korea was a Communist regime that followed communist ideologies that also isolated itself from the world, while the absolute monarchy in Europe allowed free trade and social disparity. Last, North Korea hasn't yet fall.