Sako Ku Vs Juche?

[Karl Marx's Camel]

Clive Pointing mentions in his book WORLD HISTORY: A NEW PERSPECTIVE, that Japan developed a policy of "sako ku" (translated into "isolation" or "self-reliance"). Apparently it was a response to Russian, French, English and U.S. pressure after the Opium war.

I haven't found any additional information regarding this policy. (maybe the name was spelled wrong)

It immediately striked me that this was quite similar to the policy of north Korea, or at least in name. Juche is often translated to "self reliance", isn't it?

Is there any reason why a nation in the 19th century would adopt such a policy, only to be followed by a neighbouring nation with strong ties to the former some 150 years later?

[ComradeOm]

Splendid Isolation was a big idea back then. A number of nations, particularly those removed from Europe, engaged in it. There is no connection.

[RedAnarchist]

wouldn't Sako Ku be fundamentally feudalist/capitalist and Juche be fundamentally Neo-Confucian/Stalinist?

[Avtomatov]

hoorah for juche!

[kaaos_af]

Yeah- Juche's all bout self-reliance- but it's also about reunification with S.Korea... so no. It isn't like isolation at all really. Plus, the DPRK still has something of an internationalist attitude, dealing with other dictatorships like Iran, Australia, China and Cuba.

[Whitten]

Originally posted by [email protected] 14 2006, 04:01 PM
Yeah- Juche's all bout self-reliance- but it's also about reunification with S.Korea... so no. It isn't like isolation at all really. Plus, the DPRK still has something of an internationalist attitude, dealing with other dictatorships like Iran, Australia, China and Cuba.
Australia? Did I miss something? Is there something that makes them particuarly a dictatorship or are you using it in the sense that all bourgeois countries are dictatorships?

[kaaos_af]

Let's just say that I've been waiting outside a watch-house for last few hours waiting for comrades to be released following a peaceful protest... the cops were assholes today and I've been bashed enough times to be in the mentality that this is a dictatorship... but maybe this is simply my opinion- but it is an informed opinion.

[Whitten]

Originally posted by [email protected] 14 2006, 05:24 PM
Let's just say that I've been waiting outside a watch-house for last few hours waiting for comrades to be released following a peaceful protest... the cops were assholes today and I've been bashed enough times to be in the mentality that this is a dictatorship... but maybe this is simply my opinion- but it is an informed opinion.
No, its like that in most "enlightened western democracies" too. I was just wondering what your specific reasoning was. gdgd