The changing state-firm relations and GPNs in the evolution of state developmentalism

Abstract

The developmental states in East Asia experienced remarkable growth in the late 20th century. However, questions arise as to whether state-firm relations have changed in so-called post-developmental ways. This study critically assesses the state-firm relations and GPNs in terms of the evolution of state developmentalism. Specifically, the study would like to elaborate three strands of the state-firm relationships in the developmental state using Korean case. First, what is the meaning of manufacturing in the developmental state? It explains the role of manufacturing (company) in the developmental state and how its role has been maintained or changed in the process of the evolution to the post-developmental state. Second, how has the relationship between state-firm relations changed at the institutional level after industries and the firms joined GPNs? It elaborates the state-firm relationship in the post-developmental state era brought about by the change from state developmentalism industrial strategy to the GPNs. Third, has the role as the manufacturing country in the GPNs locked-in the developmental state? It is an explanation of what legacy and path-dependency are and what newly emerged in the evolutionary process of state developmentalism. Through answering and elaborating these questions, this study would like to point out the evolution of Korea’s state developmentalism has been influenced by incorporating into GPNs, but at the same time, the industrial strategy at the national scale is still valid.