Show Notes
Edward Goldring, senior lecturer in political science at the University of Melbourne and author of the new book “Purges: How Dictators Fight to Survive,” joins the podcast to discuss why authoritarian leaders remove senior officials and what those purges can reveal about political survival.
Goldring explains why a purge does not necessarily mean imprisonment or execution, defining it more broadly as the removal of an elite from a dictator’s inner circle. He argues that dictators generally purge elites for three main reasons: to consolidate power, punish disloyalty or scapegoat officials when leaders face pressure from below.
The conversation also looks at the reported execution of economic official Pak Nam Gi after the failed 2009 currency reform and the 2013 purge of Jang Song Thaek. Goldring discusses why dramatic purges are not always signs of strength, arguing that leaders often use them when they are still relatively weak and trying to consolidate power, and explores whether purges can actually prevent coups.
About the podcast: The North Korea News Podcast is a weekly podcast hosted by Alannah Hill exclusively for NK News, covering all things DPRK — from news to extended interviews with leading experts and analysts in the field, along with insight from our very own journalists.
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Editor’s note: This interview was recorded in July 2026. Some references to recent events and political developments reflect the situation at the time of recording and may differ from subsequent developments.
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