Isolationism in North Korea and Anarres

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I previously drew comparisons between East and West Germany and Anarres and Urras. I used the Berlin Wall to symbolize the separation between the two planets and how such separation causes a divergence of culture. However, I now believe a better representation of the divide between Anarres and Urras is the division between North and South Korea.

Anarres and Urras do not wish to unify, unlike East and West Germany. Anarresti leaders in the PDC are shown to debate on keeping the separation between Anarres and Urras permanent and disallowing exchanges between the two planets. This is similar to North Korea’s isolationism from the rest of the world as both Anarres and North Korea seek isolationism to protect themselves from who they believe are the enemy, the capitalists.

This isolationism creates a divergence of cultures from an originally unified society. Chamberlin writes “This is because the two Koreas have developed significantly different if not divergent values, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors within their major social institutions over the generations since national division.” In the same way, Anarres and Urras have developed opposing cultural values which we see with Shevek’s hatred for the Urrasti society and their capitalism.

Anarres draws similarities to North Korea, as an isolationist and socialist nation. While North Korea is totalitarian, as opposed to Anarres, they share similar cultural ideology in the destruction of cultural norms and their replacement with collectivist ideology. Likewise, Urras draws similarities from South Korea. Both are capitalist and individualist with societal norms dictated by tradition. Yet, Anarresti’s come from the same planet of Urras. They share a similar point of origin and then diverge, much like North and South Korea’s divergence after the splitting of the peninsula.

Anarres’s isolationism makes me wonder if they’ll treat Shevek like North Korea treats refugees. Will they reaccept Shevek with open arms, or will they despise him and exile him?

Chamberlin, Paul F. “CULTURAL DIMENSIONS OF KOREAN REUNIFICATION: BUILDING A UNIFIED SOCIETY.” International Journal on World Peace, vol. 21, no. 3, 2004, pp. 3–42. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/20753448. Accessed 5 Mar. 2026.