Leverage of the Weak: Labor and Environmental Movements in Taiwan and South Korea

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Comparing Taiwan and South Korea strategically, Hwa-Jen Liu seeks an answer to a deceptively simple question: Why do social movements appear at different times in a nation's developmentDespite their apparent resemblance--a colonial heritage, authoritarian rule, rapid industrialization, and structural similarities--Taiwan and South Korea were opposites in their experiences with two key social movements. South Korea followed a conventional capitalist route: labor movements challenged the system long before environmental movements did. In Taiwan, pro-environment struggles gained strength before labor activism. Liu argues that part of the explanation lies in an analysis of how movements advance their causes by utilizing different types of power. Whereas labor movements have the power of economic leverage, environmental movements depend on the power of ideology. Therefore, examining material factors versus ideational factors is crucial to understanding the successes (or failures) of social movements."Leverage of the Weak" is a significant contribution to the literature on social movements, to the study of East Asian political economies, and to the progress of the comparative-historical method. It enhances knowledge of movement emergence, investigates the possibilities and obstacles involved in forging labor-environment alliances, and offers the first systematic, multilayered comparisons across movements and nations in East Asia.

Reviews

"Theoretically sophisticated and methodologically meticulous, Hwa-Jen Lius book presents a fascinating comparative analysis of the labor and environmental movements in Taiwan and South Korea.Leverage of the Weak is one of the most interesting and significant books on East Asian development."Hagen Koo, University of Hawaii at Manoa

"Asober yet hopeful account of the struggle to humanize capitalism, this comparative study is a valuable resource for those interested in social movements andlabor, sociology, and economic development."CHOICE

"Because of its rich conceptual development, strong case study analysis and the generalisability of its findings, Leverage of the Weak is likely to appeal to a diverse academic audience."Asian Studies Review

"Essential reading for anyone interested in the historical development of Taiwan and South Korea."American Journal of Sociology

"Theoretically innovative, well-grounded in in-depth empirical research, and well written. Students who want to understand the rise social movements in East Asia, the relationship between labor and environmental activism, and the interactions between state actors and collective actors will learn a lot from this comparative study."Mobilization

"Lius rigorous, provocative, and ground-breaking analysis of the mutually constitutive relationship between movement power and capitalist transformation should be required reading for anyone interested in the political possibilities and challenges of social movements in todays global political economy."Labour/Le Travail

"This is a detailed study on why and how social movements rise up during a nations development. Author Liu takes a comparative examination of two Northeast Asian countries, similar in many ways of political and economic development; modern industrialized Taiwan and South Korea."Korean Quarterly

Author Bio

Hwa-Jen Liu teaches sociology at the National Taiwan University.