I rolled my eyes when Robert Koehler called his interview an "interesting one", but shouldn't have resisted reading this OMN interview with Bruce Cumings. There's two Cumings: the guy who writes decent history books; and, the elliptical pundit who seems to follow his own ideological definition of the Left.

I was pleasantly surprised by his support for FTA—although I would call it managed trade—which is a departure from his previous anti-globalization comments. But, the rest of his positions, on Japan, North Korea, and Gwangju, are straight from leftist talking points. Which, of course, means I disagree with his views on Japan.

But, that long-term perspective on South Korean democratization and his opinion on Gwangju are invigorating and compelling.