From Manners to Rules

Advocating for Legalism in South Korea and Japan

Celeste L. Arrington (George Washington University, Washington DC)

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English

Cambridge University Press
07 August 2025

Politics & government; Comparative law; Law & society

Series: Cambridge Studies in Law and Society

From Manners to Rules traces the emergence of legalistic governance in South Korea and Japan. While these countries were previously known for governance characterized by bureaucratic discretion and vague laws, activists and lawyers are pushing for a more legalistic regulatory style. Legalism involves more formal, detailed, and enforceable rules and participatory policy processes. Previous studies have focused on top-down or structural explanations for legalism. From Manners to Rules instead documents bottom-up sources of institutional and social change, as activists and lawyers advocate for and use more formal rules and procedures. By comparing recent reforms in disability rights and tobacco control, the book uncovers the societal drivers behind legalism and the broader judicialization of politics in East Asia's main democracies. Drawing on 120 interviews and diverse sources, From Manners to Rules challenges the conventional wisdom that law and courts play marginal roles in Korean and Japanese politics and illuminates how legalistic governance is transforming citizens' options for political participation.

By: Celeste L. Arrington (George Washington University Washington DC)
Imprint: Cambridge University Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
ISBN: 9781108496049
ISBN 10: 1108496040
Series: Cambridge Studies in Law and Society
Pages: 438
Publication Date: 07 August 2025
Audience: College/higher education , Further / Higher Education
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Celeste L. Arrington is Korea Foundation Associate Professor of Political Science and International Affairs at the George Washington University. She is the award-winning author of numerous articles and Accidental Activists: Victim Movements and Governmental Accountability in Japan and South Korea (Cornell, 2016) and the co-editor with Patricia Goedde of Rights Claiming in South Korea (Cambridge, 2021).

Reviews for From Manners to Rules: Advocating for Legalism in South Korea and Japan

'Celeste Arrington's extraordinary From Manners to Rules explores how grassroots and legal activists expanded disability rights and enhanced tobacco control laws in Japan and South Korea. The book upends understandings of East Asia's top-down administrative states, a must read for scholars of Japan, South Korea, and comparative legal studies.' Mary Alice Haddad, John E. Andrus Professor of Government, Wesleyan University 'This illuminating book challenges the conventional wisdom of the role of law and courts in East Asian politics. The robust research design and impressive breadth of data gathered brings the story of social and institutional change to life. This is a must-read for scholars, students, and policymakers who care about the role of law and courts in democratic societies.' Lisa Vanhala, Professor of Political Science, University College London