Lectures by William C. Fox

Why North Korea is North Korea

History of North Korea's Origins, from 2333 BC to 1953. In this lecture, we explore how North Korea was formed under Kim Jong Un's grandfather, Kim Il-Sung, beginning with the Russo-Japanese War and ending with the Korean War. We also cover the Joseon Dynasty and give a biography of Kim Il-Sung.★Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/williamcfox [https://www.patreon.com/williamcfox]SOURCING:Korea: Where the American Century Began by Pembroke 2018 The Korea War, an International history by Haruki. 2018 The Forgotten Political Elites of North Korea. Tertitskiy 2024 Origins of the Korean War Cumings Parts 1 & 2. 1981, 1992.Lankov. From Stalin to Kim Il Sung. 2002Forever President Michael J. Seth. 2025 2016 Routledge Handbook of Modern Korean History edited M. Seth A Concise History of Modern Korea MJ Seth 2010 Soviet-North Korean relations during the Cold War : unruly offspring / Fyodor Tertitskiy. Kim Il-sung in the Khrushchve era 2005Article (Abstract) Eom: Collusive Oligopolistic Politics: Sedo...2012. UBC.UNESCO "Archives of the Donghak Peasant Revolution"National Palace Museum of Korea. Su-hee Park. "Recording the Brief History of the Korean Empire"Intern, “Reflections of Joseon in DPRK’s Songbun Caste System.”Kim, “Land Reform in South Korea under the U.S. Military Occupation, 1945–1948.”Eom, “Collusive Oligopolistic Politics.”Brazinsky, Nation Building in South KoreaKim, The Development of Modern South Korea.“Archives of the Donghak Peasant Revolution - Memory of the World.”Google Arts & Culture, “Recording the Brief History of the Korean Empire.”Accidental Tyrant: The Life of Kim Il-Sung: Tertitskiy, FyodorThe Man and His Era: William TaubmanNorth Korea: What Everyone Needs to Know: McEachernTyranny of the Weak : North Korea and the World, 1950-1992. Kim Il-Sung: The Controversial Life and Legacy of North Korea’s First Supreme Leader. Land Reform in South Korea, 1945–1948. Journal of Cold War Studies 18, no. 2 (2016)“North Korea in a Nutshell: A Contemporary Overview: Oh, Kongdan, Hassig, Ralph“Leader Symbols and Personality Cult in North Korea: The Leader State.” pg 51-77The North Korean Revolution, 1945–1950 Charles K. Armstrong00:00-1:32 Intro1:33-41:37 Japan, Russia, Roosevelt41:38-02:38:26 Korea in Japan02:38:27-02:48:12 Stalin and Cat interrugnum02:48:13-03:31:31 1945-194603:31:32-03:50:31 1947-4803:50:32-04:18:56 1949-Korean WarStock video and imagery provided by Getty Images. Get full access to Present Prologue History at williamcfox.substack.com/subscribe [https://williamcfox.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

The Problem With Abraham Lincoln

A political biography of Abraham Lincoln, exploring his potential re-founding of the United States via a 'baptism of blood' - as well as his evolving views on natural equality vs. political and social equality.★Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/williamcfox [https://www.patreon.com/williamcfox]0:00-00:00-01:07 Intro1:08-18:36 Good v Bad Lincoln18:37-1:25:33 Jefferson & Natural Equality1:25:34-2:34:18 Lincoln Pre-Civil War2:34:19-4:02:20 Political Lincoln4:02:21-4:46:15 Baptism of BloodThe Gettysburg Address: Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.Abraham LincolnNovember 19, 1863Sources:Blackburn. Karl Marx and Abraham Lincoln: An Unfinished Revolution. 2011.Boritt. The Gettysburg Gospel: The Lincoln Speech That Nobody Knows. 2006.Cotton. The Greatest Speech, Ever: The Remarkable Story of Abraham Lincoln and His Gettysburg Address. 2013. 1st edition.Dunlap et al. Long Remembered: Lincoln and his five.... 2011. 1st edition.Freedman. Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass: The Story Behind an American Friendship. 2012.Hirsch & Van Haften. The Ultimate Guide to the Gettysburg Address. 2016. 1st edition.Jaffa. Crisis of the House Divided: An Interpretation of the Issues in the Lincoln-Douglas Debates. 1959.Jaffa. A New Birth of Freedom: Abraham Lincoln and the Coming of the Civil War. 2000.Johnson. Writing the Gettysburg Address. 2013.Kendall & Carey. The Basic Symbols of the American Political Tradition. 1970 (1995 Catholic University of America Press edition).McPherson. Abraham Lincoln and the Second American Revolution. 1991.Warren. Lincoln's Gettysburg Declaration: "A New Birth of Freedom". 1964.Wills. Lincoln at Gettysburg: The Words That Remade America. 1992.The Art of Abraham Lincoln by McPherson. NY Review of Books Jul 16, 1992Founders' Son: A Life of Abraham Lincoln. Richard BrookhiserAbraham Lincoln. Redeemer President. 1999. Allen C. GuelzoLincoln and the Radicals. T Harry WilliamsTeam of Rivals. Doris Kearns GoodwinLord Charnwood. Abraham Liincoln.Our One Common Country. James B. Conroyprimary sources speeches and letters:Lyceum Address January 27, 1838Temperance Address February 22, 1842Eulogy on Henry Clay July 6, 1852Speech at Peoria October 16, 1854Letter to Joshua Speed August 24, 1855Speech on the Dred Scott Decision June 26, 1857"House Divided" Speech June 16, 1858"Electric Cord" Speech July 10, 1858Fragment on Democracy c. August 1858First Debate with Stephen A. Douglas August 21, 1858Fourth Debate with Stephen A. Douglas September 18, 1858Fifth Debate with Stephen A. Douglas October 7, 1858Seventh Debate with Stephen A. Douglas October 15, 1858Letter to J. N. Brown October 18, 1858Letter to Henry L. Pierce and others April 6, 1859Cooper Union Address February 27, 1860Address in Independence Hall February 22, 1861July 4th Message to Congress July 4, 1861Letter to Horace Greeley August 22, 1862Annual Message to Congress December 1, 1862The Gettysburg Address November 19, 1863Letter to Governor Michael Hahn March 13, 1864Letter to Albert G. Hodges April 4, 1864Address at Sanitary Fair (Lecture on Liberty) April 18, 1864The President's Last Public Address April 11, 1865Stock video and imagery provided by Getty Images. Get full access to Present Prologue History at williamcfox.substack.com/subscribe [https://williamcfox.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

When is it Dictatorship?

What is dictatorship,? Explained. Dictatorship questions answered, including its distinction with authoritarianism, totalitarianism and monarchy.★Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/williamcfox [https://www.patreon.com/williamcfox]★Subscribe on Substack: https://www.williamcfox.substack.com [https://www.williamcfox.substack.com]Rome's DictatorshipHistory of Rome by Mommsen Translated by Dickson. 1875. (see Wilson critique)Dictator: The Evolution of the Roman Dictatorship by Mark Wilson 2022T. Corey Brennan The Praetorship in the Roman Republic (2000)Gregory Kung Golden Crisis Management during the Roman Republic (2013)2010 KU Thesis. A New Perspective Early Roman Dictatorship, 501-300 by Easton The Constitution of the Roman Republic, A. Lintott 1999Mary Beard. SPQR A History of Ancient Rome. The Roman EmpireA Historical Encyclopedia 2 volumes James W. Ermatinger The Constitution of the Roman Republic Andrew Lintott 2003Roman Civilization: Selected ReadingsThe Empire, Volume 1, third edition Lewis & Reinhold (Aulus Gellius excerpt)CaesarBarry Strauss. The Death of CaesarPlutarch. The Life of Julius Caesar ~75CE ; also, Life of BrutusAPPIAN. THE CIVIL WARS. ~162CECassius Dio: Roman HistoryNicolaus of Damascus: Life of AugustusSuetonius, The Lives of the twelve CaesarsM. Tullius Cicero, Orations, The fourteen orations against Marcus Antonius (Philippics)C. D. Yonge, Ed.Cicero TO ATTICUS 28 MAYCicero De OfficiisMcahiavelli The Prince ~1510sDiscourses on Livy ~1510sProfessor William R. Cook Lectures 12-22Benner, Erica.Be [http://Erica.Be] Like the Fox: Machiavelli’s Lifelong Quest for Freedom_. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2017Mansfield, Harvey C. Machiavelli’s Virtue. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1996Skinner, Quentin.Machiavelli: A Very Short Introduction_. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000Strauss, Leo.Thoughts on Machiavelli. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1958Harvard Program on Constitutional Government. "Is Machiavelli a Moralist or a Realist?"Harvard Program on Constitutional Government."Is Machiavelli a Philosopher?"YaleCourses. 10&11. New Modes and Orders: Machiavelli's The PrinceCarl SchmittDictatorship, 1921. Goethe Institut Translation 2013Political Theology: Four Chapters on the Concept of Sovereignty 2006by Carl Schmitt, George Schwab (Translator), Tracy B. Strong (Foreword)Essay: Dictatorship (1926) by Carl SchmittMontesquieuConsiderations on the Causes of the Greatness of the Romans and their Declineby Montesquieu 1734The Spirit of Law by Montesquieu 1748Rousseau On Social Contract 1762Bertram, Christopher. "Rousseau's Legacy in Two Conceptions of the General Will: Democratic and Transcendent." The Review of Politics, vol. 74, no. 3, 2012, pp. 403–419.De Wilde, Marc. "Silencing the Laws to Save the Fatherland: Rousseau's Theory of Dictatorship between Bodin and Schmitt." History of European Ideas, vol. 45, no. 8, 2019, pp. 1107–1124.Bertram, Christopher. "Jean Jacques Rousseau." The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Winter 2023 Edition.Szelényi, Ivan. "5. Rousseau: Popular Sovereignty and General Will." YaleCoursesLockeTwo Treatises on Government Locke 1689HobbesLeviathan 1651Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy(Spring 2025 Edition) Duncan, Stewart. "Thomas Hobbes."YaleCourses 12-14. The Sovereign State: Hobbes' Leviathan" (Prof. Steven Smith)French RevolutionSieyes What is the Third Estate via The French Revolution and Human Rights: A Brief History with Documents by Lynn Hunt Memoirs of the Life, Exile, and Conversations of the Emperor Napoleon, 1835The Doctrine of Fascism byMussolini and Giovanni Gentile. 1932.Lenin: The State and Revolution, 1917. Accessed via Marxist Archive“A Brief History of the State of Exception by Giorgio Agamben.” “Appian of Alexandria | Roman Empire, Punic Wars, Civil Wars | Britannica.” Gagliardi, Lorenzo. “Leges Liciniae Sextiae.” In Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Classics. 2017.Manuwald, Jeffrey Henderson • Gesine. “Marcus Terentius Varro’s on the Latin Language: Book V: Chapter XIV: Section 82.” Loeb Classical Library. Accessed January 19, 2026. “Marcus Furius Camillus | Facts & Biography | Britannica.” January 2, 2026. “Marcus Terentius Varro | Roman Scholar, Author & Philosopher | Britannica.” Stock video and imagery provided by Getty Images. Get full access to Present Prologue History at williamcfox.substack.com/subscribe [https://williamcfox.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

When is it Fascism

What is fascism? Here's a lecture explaining fascism's origins and traits.★Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/williamcfox [https://www.patreon.com/williamcfox]General:A History of Fascism, 1914-1945 Stanley G. PayneFascism, Comparison and Definition Stanley G. PayneAnatomy of Fascism Robert O. PaxtonFascism Key Concepts in Political Theory Roger GriffinThe Nature of Fascism Roger GriffinThe Fascist Revolution Toward a General Theory of Fascism George L. MosseFascism - A Very Short Introduction Kevin PassmoreFascism A History Roger Eatwell1848:The European Revolutions, 1848 - 1851 Sperber, JonathanRevolutionary Spring 1848-1849, Christopher ClarkItaly:Mussolini R. J. B. BosworthMussolinis Intellectuals Fascist Social and Political Thought Anthony James GregorMussolinis italy life under the fascist dictatorship, 1915-1945 (2007) R. J. B. BosworthThe Birth of Fascist Ideology Sternhell et al.The Civic Foundations of Fascism in Europe Dylan RileThe Sacralization of Politics in Fascist Italy Emilio GentileGermany:Hitler 1889-1936 Hubris Ian KershawHitler Ascent, 1889-1939 Volker UllrichHitler and the Beer Hall Putsch Harold J. GordonThe German Communists and the Rise of Nazism Conan FischerThe Rise and Fall of the Third ReichA History of Nazi Germany William L. ShirerWeimar and the Rise of Hitler Anthony James NichollsPop:Fascism A Warning Madeleine AlbrightHow Fascism Works The Politics of Us and Them Jason StanleyLeon Trotsky: Fascism: What it is and how to fight itAnderson, Thomas P. The Social Debate in the French Constituent Assembly, 1848. n.d.Beiner, Ronald. “Machiavelli, Hobbes, and Rousseau on Civil Religion.” The Review of Politics 55, no. 4 (1993): 617–38.“Program of the National Fascist Party (1921).”“The Charter of Labour (1927).” “The Manifesto of Fascist Intellectuals (1925).” “The Manifesto of Verona (1943).” Brooks, Thom. Hegel’s Social and Political Philosophy. June 3, 2021. “Gabriele D’Annunzio’s Fiume Escapade | History Today.” Harvard University Press. “The Sacralization of Politics in Fascist Italy.” Accessed October 18, 2025. “Italy - Economic Crisis, Political Turmoil, Two Red Years | Britannica.” October 13, 2025. Sorel, Georges. Reflections on Violence. n.d.00:00-01:05 Intro01:06-1:19:41 1848 Revolutions1:19:42-3:09:01 Italian Fascism3:09:02-4:22:43 German Fascism4:22:44-4:55:34 What is Fascism?Stock video and imagery provided by Getty Images. Get full access to Present Prologue History at williamcfox.substack.com/subscribe [https://williamcfox.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Every Dictator of North Korea, Explained (1945-now)

00:00-12:13 Intro and Historical Context12:24-49:44 Rise of Sung49:45-1:53:00 Sung's governance1:53:01-2:33:57 Kim Jong Il2:33:58-2:56:39 Kim Jong UnSourcing:“Accidental Tyrant: The Life of Kim Il-Sung: Tertitskiy, Fyodor.” Accessed September 30, 2025.Becoming Kim Jong Un: A Former CIA Officer’s Insights into North Korea’s Enigmatic Young Dictator : Jung H. Pak, Jung H. Pak, Random House Audio” Accessed September 30, 2025. Dear Leader: My Escape from North Korea eBook : Jin-Sung, Jang: Kindle Store.” Accessed September 30, 2025. Khrushchev: The Man and His Era: William Taubman, David Stifel, Tantor Audio: Audible Books & Originals.” Accessed September 30, 2025. “North Korea under Kim Chong-Il: Power, Politics, and Prospects for Change (Praeger Security International) Gause, Ken E.: Books.” Accessed September 30, 2025. North Korea: What Everyone Needs to Know: McEachern, Patrick: Books.” Accessed September 30, 2025. “Passcode to the Third Floor: An Insider’s Account of Life Among North Korea’s Political Elite eBook : Yong-Ho, Thae, Lauler, Robert” Accessed September 30, 2025. “Stalin: Breaker of Nations": Robert Conquest, Frederick Davidson, Blackstone Audio, Inc.: Books.” Accessed September 30, 2025. “The Real North Korea: Life and Politics in the Failed Stalinist Utopia: Andrei Lankov, Steven Roy Grimsley.” Accessed September 30, 2025. Under the Loving Care of the Fatherly Leader: North Korea and the Kim Dynasty eBook : Martin, Bradley K.: Kindle Store.” Accessed September 30, 2025. Armstrong, Charles K. Tyranny of the Weak : North Korea and the World, 1950-1992. With Internet Archive. Ithaca : Cornell University Press, 2013. Becker, Jasper. Rogue Regime: Kim Jong Il and the Looming Threat of North Korea. Oxford University Press, 2006.Cha, John H., and K. J. Sohn. Exit Emperor Kim Jong-Il: Notes from His Former Mentor. Abbott Press, 2012.Editors, Charles River. Kim Il-Sung: The Controversial Life and Legacy of North Korea’s First Supreme Leader. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, n.d.Editors, Charles River. Kim Jong-Il: The Controversial Life and Legacy of North Korea’s Second Supreme Leader. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, n.d.“Historical Documents - Office of the Historian.” Accessed October 2, 2025. Intern, Amanda Brader, NKR. “Reflections of Joseon in DPRK’s Songbun Caste System.” North Korean Review, February 1, 2022.K-Developedia: Korea Development Experience Database by KDI School. “K-Developedia: Korea Development Experience Database by KDI School.” Accessed October 2, 2025. Kim, Inhan. “Land Reform in South Korea under the U.S. Military Occupation, 1945–1948.” Journal of Cold War Studies 18, no. 2 (2016): 97–129. “Kim Jong-Il, North Korea’s Dear Leader: Who He Is, What He Wants, What to Do About Him, Revised & Updated Edition: Breen, Michael:” Accessed September 30, 2025. “Mao Zedong: A Life: Jonathan Spence: 9780143037729: ” Accessed September 30, 2025. Massachusetts School of Law at Andover, dir. The Korean War: A History  Part 2 - Bruce Cumings. 2011. 01:00:00. Massachusetts School of Law at Andover, dir. The Korean War, A History.  With Bruce Cumings - Part 1. 2011. 01:00:01. “North Korea in a Nutshell: A Contemporary Overview: Oh, Kongdan, Hassig, Ralph: .” Accessed September 30, 2025. “North Korea: State of Paranoia: A Modern History: French, Paul: 9781780329475: Amazon.Com [http://Amazon.Com]: Books.” Accessed September 30, 2025. “(PDF) The North Korean Economy: Between Crisis and Catastrophe by Nicholas Eberstadt.” ResearchGate, ahead of print, August 6, 2025.Routledge & CRC Press. “Leader Symbols and Personality Cult in North Korea: The Leader State.” Accessed September 30, 2025. “Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar: Montefiore, Simon Sebag: .” Accessed September 30, 2025.“The Great Successor: Fifield, Anna: s.” Accessed September 30, 2025.“The Hermit King: The Dangerous Game of Kim Jong Un: Lee, Chung Min: 9781250202826: Amazon.Com [http://Amazon.Com]: Books.” Accessed September 30, 2025.“The North Korean Revolution, 1945–1950 (Studies of the Weatherhead East Asian Institute, Columbia University): Charles K. Armstrong: 9780801489143: Amazon.Com [http://Amazon.Com]: Books.” Accessed September 30, 2025. “The Sister: North Korea’s Kim Yo Jong, the Most Dangerous Woman in the World: Lee, Sung-Yoon: 9781541704121: Amazon.Com [http://Amazon.Com]: Books.” Accessed September 30, 2025. WoodrowWilsonCenter, dir. Stalin’s Decision for War in Korea. 2013. 01:32:31.Stock video and imagery provided by Getty Images. Get full access to Present Prologue History at williamcfox.substack.com/subscribe [https://williamcfox.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]