Asian Values Wei Yan SHI Kyung LEE

01 What are Asian Values? 1.1 Asian Values and its Principles 1.2 Asian Values and Asian Economy 02 Lee Kuan Yew 2.1 Lee ’ s Achievements in Singapore 2.2 Lee ’ s perspectives on Asian Value 03 Amartya Sen 3.1 Who is Amartya Sen 3.2 Human Rights and Asian Values 04 Shanghai Model of Economic growth 4.1 East Asian Model 4.2 Chinese Political System Table of Contents

Asian values and Asian politics

1-1 Asian Values mainly include … 1) A stress on the community rather than the individual 2) The privileging of order and harmony over personal freedom 3) A particular emphasis on saving and thriftiness 4) An insistence on hard work 5) A respect for leadership 6) An emphasis on family loyalty What are Asian Values? 4 / 12

1-2 On the aspect of politics, the main principles of Asian values: 1) Country is important than individual 2) Family is the basic of country 3) Harmony is more useful than conflicts to keep order In all, the core of Asian values is largely around Confucianism. What are Asian Values? 5 / 12

1-2 Asian Values and Asian Economy 6 / 12 Can roughly divide it into three periods: First First, before 1970, the traditional culture is the big reason to block the development of Asian economy. Then Then, after observing the economic liftoff of “ Four Asian Tigers ”, many people pay attention to Asian values and take them as the important factors to the development of economy. The third period The third period, when going through the financial crisis in Asia, Asian values again are queried, even abandoned by their vocal advocate.

Different perspectives on Asian Values Lee Kuan Yew AmartyaSenAmartyaSen

2-1 Lee Kuan Yew He is a Singapore statesman. He was the Singapore Prime Minister from 1959 to 1990, Senior Minister from 1990 to 2004 and Minister Mentor from 2004 to While his period of office, Lee made Singapore develop to one of "Four Asian Tigers". Its average increase rates of GNP and GDP are up to 8% and unemployment rate reduced from 8.9% in 1965 to 1.7% in / 12

2-2 LEE ’ s viewpoints and attitudes to America — the model of western countries LEE ’ s viewpoints and attitudes to America — the model of western countries Admiring features: 1) Free, easy and open relations between people 2) A certain openness in argument about what is good or bad for society, the accountability of public officials Unacceptable ones: the breakdown of civil society 9 / 12

2-2 Lee ’ s viewpoints on Asian Values In 1986, LEE credited the success of Singapore to Confucianism, whose basic conception is the belief in thrift, hard work, filial piety and loyalty in the extended family and the respect for scholarship and learning. He thought that the individual exists in the context of his family; family is part of the extended family, and then friends and the wider society. He mentioned a famous Chinese aphorism “ Xiushen Qijia Zhiguo Pingtianxia( 修身齐家治国平天下 ) ” to well explain the above idea. 10 / 12

Criticisms of the Asian Values Debate

Six Arguments about democracy 12 / Democracies have better human rights records 2. Democracies have higher living standards 3. Democracies are more economically productive 4. Democracies do not fight wars against each other 5. Democracies do not experience famines 6. Democracies do not commit democide

Born : 1933 Bengal, India Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences Field & Research - Welfare Economics (Famine) Bengal Famine of 1943 ~ social and economic factors “ Policy makers should pay attention to replace the lost income of the poor through.. ” 3-1 Who is Amartya Sen?

3-1 Bengal Famine of 1943

- There is nothing whatsoever to indicate that any ‘ helpful policies ’ are inconsistent with democracy. - No substantial famine has ever occurred in any independent and democratic country with a free press. -East Asia itself has much diversity, and there are many variations between Japan and China and Korea and other parts of East Asia. ∴ Attempts at generalization about Asian values cannot but be extremely crude. 3-2 Human Rights and Asian Values 15 / 12

-The diversity of Asian value systems becomes central, incorporating but transcending regional diversity. I. Buddhism, great importance is attached to freedom and free choice II. Confucius( 孔子, B.C 551~ B.C 479) did not recommend blind allegiance to the state Q. How to serve a prince? A. Tell him the truth even if it offends him “ When the good way prevails in the state, speak boldly and act boldly. When the state has lost the way, act boldly and speak softly. ” 3-2 Human Rights and Asian Values 16 / 12

-Indian epic Mahabharata indicates a variety of views on freedom, tolerance and equality. -For example, writings of Emperor Ashoka emphasized the importance of tolerance. “A man must not do reverence to his own sect or disparage that of another man without reason. Depreciation should be for specific reason only, because the sects of other people all deserve reverence for one reason or another.” 3-2 Human Rights and Asian Values 17 / 12

Yahsheng Hwang Q. Does democracy hinder or promote economic growth? 4-1 Economic growth in China and India

4-1 Shanghai model of economic growth Features of promoting economic development ; INFRASTURCTURE 1. Strong Government - Private property rights (X) 2. State ownership - Land assets

4-1 The East Asian Model Q. So why do economists fall in love with authoritarian governments? A. One reason is the East Asian Model. -Successful economic growth stories -Ruled by authoritarian government

Q. Isn ’ t it true that the one-party political system has facilitated economic growth in China? A. It depends! (Statically / Dynamically) Political Changes - village election - security of proprietors and long term land leases - financial reforms - rural entrepreneurial revolution 4-2 What about the Chinese political system?

Relationship between the state and society -West : Authority and legitimacy of the state is a function of democracy -Chinese State : enjoys legitimacy and authority -China is embracing both Asian/Western values. Q. ‘ As countries modernize, they also westernize ’ ? Modernity = competition + markets + technology + history + culture Conclusion, the rise of China

Thank you, and yes, Silence is golden( 沈黙は金 )......