julie.blank14 posted the question:
Do you think it will ever be possible for North Koreans to overthrow the totalitarian dictatorship of the Kim Dynasty?
While control of North Korea is strict and at the moment is firmly set in the Kim dynasty, I believe that a change in regime is inevitable. As with many Totalitarian regimes in the past the longer the rule lasts the less likely it is to collapse. However, the chance of such an uprising is always there, and many events lead to such changes. Many former Totalitarian regimes such as the Czars in Russia and the dynasties in china have all had their share of enforcement and centralization that shares characteristics with North Korea. What causes such a change is determined by 2 key ideas, collaboration, and cause.
While a significant amount of people in North Korea may want to overthrow their dictator, they cannot do it without collaboration. One of the most common practices of Totalitarian regimes is silencing any opposition. This is to not only give the appearance of approval from the public, but it also alienates those who wish to overthrow the regime. If people were allowed to communicate publically about their feelings towards the regime, then many would side together and form factions against their leaders. However, if no collaboration is allowed then many will just live in fear instead of revolting.
The other major contributor to an overthrow is cause. If the people who wish to overthrow are not supporting the same cause, then they will fail. Many Totalitarian governments will divide people and pit them against each other in order to prevent them from unifying under one cause. With a common goal in mind, the people would become a large force of opposition and could overthrow the regime.
Collaboration and a common goal are the fuel for the fire that overthrows governments. The only thing missing is the spark. Many world events such as war, foreign affairs, economy, and many other problems could all be sparks for a revolt. Even the American revolution was started this way. With the collaboration of colonies with the goal to oppose British enforcement. This can similarly be done in North Korea, it will just take a lot of pieces falling into place in order for it to work.