How Democratic Is the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea?

It’s a country that has the words “democratic” and “republic” right in its name. And yet, it remains one of the least democratic systems on Earth. Yes, you guessed it right. It’s the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. In this episode, we take the DPRK at its word and follow the machinery of its “democracy” all the way through. From elections with one candidate, to a parliament that meets only to agree, to political parties that never disagree, this is a system where participation is mandatory, but choice is optional. This is a guided tour through democracy without uncertainty, representation without opposition, and participation by standing still. Subscribe, unless you’re the one with that 99.99% approval rating. OP Song: Our Comrade Kim Jong-un ED Song: He is Immortal Reference: “Elections in North Korea,” Wikipedia article https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electio... “Kim Jong‑un expected to win 100 per cent of votes in ‘sham’ North Korea election,” ABC News https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-1... “North Korea cites rare dissent in elections even as 99% back candidates,” Reuters Reports on North Korea’s official turnout figures and rare mention of dissenting votes. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pa... “North Korea Elections: A Sham Worth Studying,” Time magazine https://time.com/17720/north-korea-el... Chapters: 00:00 Intro 03:32 Elections Without A Choice 12:49 The Assembly That Assembles 24:50 Parties in Agreement 33:50 Participation by Standing Still 44:18 Final Thoughts