THE CLEANEST RACE: How North Koreans See Themselves and Why it Matters

THE CLEANEST RACE: How North Koreans See Themselves and Why it Matters. By B.R. Myers. Brooklyn: Melville House Publishing, 2010, 200 pp. (Photos, illus.) US$24.95, cloth. ISBN 978-1-933633-91-6.

North Korea's self-chosen isolation makes it difficult to study its political economy. The isolation itself is remarkable considering the increased world economic integration during the past three decades. The internal contradictions of a planned economy and economic globalization have led many to predict either the collapse of the North Korean economy or willingness of the North Korean leadership to negotiate a less adversarial relationship with the United States and its neighbours to improve economic conditions. Neither has occurred. North Korea has become more problematic as its military-first strategy continues with nuclear and missile development and with provocative actions such as the sinking of the Choenan on 26 March 2010. North Korea continues a dangerous game of nuclear blackmail and there is uncertainty over the near-future transition of power from Kim Jong ll to his son, Kim Jong Eun.

In this context Myers' book is important, realistic and in many ways a depressing narrative of North Korea's ideology or worldview that helps the reader understand North Korea's past behaviour and predict how North Korea will likely act in the future. Myers challenges currently held views because they fail to incorporate how North Koreans view themselves and their relationship to the world. North...