As political violence rises in the US, only Americans can save themselves
A ruling party in lockstep with its autocratic leader, unwilling to challenge him amid a combination of ideological factors but also careerism. Police forces dispatched with emergency powers into strongholds of the political opposition. Politicians associated with the opposition party murdered.
This situation describes not the United States of today but South Korea under its first president, Syngman Rhee. Following the Korean peninsula's liberation from decades of Japanese colonisation in 1945, the national division of 1948 and then the Korean war of 1950-53, the ostensibly democratic South Korea suffered from weak institutions and established norms.
This, along with the ever-present threat of North Korea and communist infiltration, plus extensive US backing, allowed Rhee to turn the country's ruling Liberal Party into an organisation built almost entirely around loyalty to him. He could personally direct the country's internal security forces against threats to his position.
Consequently, Rhee maintained tight control over the government for 12 years, even as the economy stagnated, his forces grew more brazen in their oppression and public discontent began to mount. These pressures finally boiled over in April 1960 when
a massive uprising , led by young people unhappy with their still-dim economic prospects and Rhee loyalists' blatant election-rigging, marched on the capital, prompting a fatal police crackdown.
This only stirred further outrage and protests, leading to a harsh reaction from the United States, South Korea's most important ally. Rhee quickly resigned and, though he had spent decades during Japanese colonisation as a brave, self-sacrificing advocate for his people's independence, is today largely remembered as a failed president and an autocrat, unworthy of being memorialised.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
2 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Ukraine war: Trump threatens India with higher tariffs over Russian oil
US President Donald Trump said on Monday that he would substantially raise tariffs on India over its purchases of Russian oil. 'India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then, for much of the Oil purchased, selling it on the Open Market for big profits. They don't care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine,' Trump said in a social media post. 'Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA.' He did not elaborate on what the tariff would be. India's trade ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Last week, Trump said he would impose a 25 per cent tariff on goods imported from India and added that the world's fifth-largest economy would also face an unspecified penalty but gave no details.
South China Morning Post
3 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Trump threatens India with ‘substantially' higher tariffs over Russian oil amid Ukraine war
US President Donald Trump said on Monday that he would substantially raise tariffs on India over its purchases of Russian oil. 'India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then, for much of the Oil purchased, selling it on the Open Market for big profits. They don't care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine,' Trump said in a social media post. 'Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA.' He did not elaborate on what the tariff would be. India's trade ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Last week, Trump said he would impose a 25 per cent tariff on goods imported from India and added that the world's fifth-largest economy would also face an unspecified penalty but gave no details.
South China Morning Post
5 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Singapore opposition leader Pritam Singh defends parliament over tame debates
Singapore 's parliamentary debates may lack the fireworks seen in other legislatures, but that reflects the city state's pragmatic culture, according to opposition leader Pritam Singh. In his first-ever radio interview, the Workers' Party (WP) chief said the tone of debate mirrored the national character – serious, results-oriented and not prone to theatrics. 'When you come in from that perspective, you're really not there to throw things around, but you want to see certain outcomes,' Singh said on Monday during an appearance on Kiss92's morning show. 'Like society, we're all quite pragmatic, so we want the thing to work … and part of making the thing work is to make sure that you have a real debate in terms of real issues being brought up, and there being an exchange.' Singh was responding to co-hosts Glenn Ong and Angelique Teo, who noted that parliamentary sessions in Britain and Taiwan were often rowdy and contrasted that with Singapore's more subdued proceedings.
