Is Culture Destiny?

The Myth of Asia's Anti-Democratic Values

Author(s): Kim Dae Jung
Source: Foreign Affairs, Vol. 73, No. 6 (Nov. - Dec., 1994), pp. 189-194
Published by: Council on Foreign Relations
Stable URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/20047005
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 A Response to Lee Kuan Yew

Is Culture Destiny?
The Myth of Asia's Anti-Democratic Values

Kim Dae Jung

In his interview with Foreign Affairs Some people conclude that the Soviet
(March/April 1994), Singapore's former demise was the result of the victory of
prime minister, Lee Kuan Yew, presents capitalism over socialism. But I believe it
interesting ideas about cultural differencesrepresented the triumph of democracy
between Western and East Asian societies over dictatorship. Without democracy,
and the political implications of those capitalism in Prussian Germany and
differences. Although he does not explic Meiji Japan eventually met its tragic end.
itly say so, his statements throughout the The many Latin American states that in
interview and his track record make it recent decades embraced capitalism while
obvious that his admonition to Americans rejecting democracy failed miserably. On
"not to foist their system indiscriminately the other hand, countries practicing
on societies in which it will not work" democratic capitalism or democratic
implies that Western-style democracy is socialism, despite temporary setbacks,
not applicable to East Asia. Considering have prospered.
the esteem in which he is held among In spite of these trends, lingering
world leaders and the prestige of this doubts remain about the applicability of
journal, this kind of argument is likely to and prospects for democracy in Asia.
have considerable impact and therefore Such doubts have been raised mainly by
deserves a careful reply. Asia's authoritarian leaders, Lee being
With the collapse of the Soviet Union the most articulate among them. They
in 1991, socialism has been in retreat. have long maintained that cultural

Kim Dae Jung was a dissident, human rights activist, and presidential can
didate during a political career of more than four decades in the Republic of
Korea. He is currently Chairman of the Kim Dae Jung Peace Foundation for
the Asia-Pacific Region.

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 Kim Dae Jung
differences make the "Western concept" strongly implying that democracy will
of democracy and human rights inapplic not work in Asia.
able to East Asia. Does Asia have the
FAMILY VALUES (REQUIRED HERE)
philosophical and historical underpin
nings suitable for democracy? Is democ But the facts demonstrate just the oppo
racy achievable there? site. It is not true, as Lee alleges, that
Asian governments shy away from inter
SELF-SERVING SELF-RELIANCE
vening in private matters and taking on
Lee stresses cultural factors throughout all of society's problems. Asian govern
his interview. I too believe in the impor ments intrude much more than Western
tance of culture, but I do not think it governments into the daily affairs of
alone determines a society's fate, nor is it individuals and families. In Korea, for
immutable. Moreover, Lee's view of example, each household is required to
Asian cultures is not only unsupportable attend monthly neighborhood meetings
but self-serving. He argues that Eastern to receive government directives and dis
societies, unlike Western ones, "believe cuss local affairs. Japans powerful gov
that the individual exists in the context ol ernment constantly intrudes into the
his family" and that the family is "the business world to protect perceived
building brick of society." However, as an national interests, to the point of causing
inevitable consequence of industrializa disputes with the United States and
tion, the family-centered East Asian other trading partners. In Lee's Singa
societies are also rapidly moving toward pore, the government stringently regu
self-centered individualism. Nothing in lates individuals' actions?such as
human history is permanent. chewing bubble-gum, spitting, smoking,
Lee asserts that, in the East, "the ruler littering, and so on?to an Orwellian
or the government does not try to pro extreme of social engineering. Such facts
vide for a person what the family best fly in the face of his assertion that East
provides." He cites this ostensibly self Asia's governments are minimalist. Lee
reliant, family-oriented culture as the makes these false claims to justify his
main cause of East Asia's economic suc rejection of Western-style democracy.
cesses and ridicules Western govern He even dislikes the one man, one vote
ments for allegedly trying to solve all of principle, so fundamental to modern
society's problems, even as he worries democracy, saying that he is not "intel
about the moral breakdown of Western lectually convinced" it is best.
societies due to too much democracy and Opinions like Lee's hold considerable
too many individual rights. Conse sway not only in Asia but among some
quently, according to Lee, the Western Westerners because of the moral break
political system, with its intrusive gov down of many advanced democratic soci
ernment, is not suited to family-oriented eties. Many Americans thought, for
East Asia. He rejects Westernization example, that the U.S. citizen Michael
while embracing modernization and its Fay deserved the caning he received from
attendant changes in lifestyle?again Singaporean authorities for his act of

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 Is Culture Destiny?
vandalism. However, moral breakdown is democracy. According to Locke, sover
attributable not to inherent shortcomings eign rights reside with the people and,
of Western cultures but to those of based on a contract with the people,
industrial societies; a similar phenome leaders are given a mandate to govern,
non is now spreading through Asia's which the people can withdraw. But
newly industrializing societies. The fact almost two millennia before Locke, Chi
that Lee's Singapore, a small city-state, nese philosopher Meng-tzu preached
needs a near-totalitarian police state to similar ideas. According to his "Politics
assert control over its citizens contradicts of Royal Ways," the king is the "Son of
his assertion that everything would be all Heaven," and heaven bestowed on its
right if governments would refrain from son a mandate to provide good govern
interfering in the private affairs of the ment, that is, to provide good for the
family. The proper way to cure the ills of people. If he did not govern righteously,
industrial societies is not to impose the the people had the right to rise up and
terror of a police state but to emphasize overthrow his government in the name
ethical education, give high regard to of heaven. Meng-tzu even justified regi
spiritual values, and promote high stan cide, saying that once a king loses the
dards in culture and the arts. mandate of heaven he is no longer wor
thy of his subjects' loyalty. The people
LONG BEFORE LOCKE
came first, Meng-tzu said, the country
No one can argue with Lee's objection to second, and the king third. The ancient
"foisting" an alien system "indiscrimi Chinese philosophy o?Minben Zhengchi,
nately on societies in which it will not or "people-based politics," teaches that
work." The question is whether democ "the will of the people is the will of
racy is a system so alien to Asian cultures heaven" and that one should "respect the
that it will not work. Moreover, consider people as heaven" itself.
ing Lee's record of absolute intolerance A native religion of Korea, Tonghak,
of dissent and the continued crackdown went even further, advocating that "man
on dissidents in many other Asian coun is heaven" and that one must serve man
tries, one is also compelled to ask as one does heaven. These ideas inspired
whether democracy has been given a and motivated nearly half a million peas
chance in places like Singapore. ants in 1894 to revolt against exploitation
A thorough analysis makes it clear that by feudalistic government internally and
Asia has a rich heritage of democracy-ori imperialistic forces externally. There are
ented philosophies and traditions. Asia no ideas more fundamental to democracy
has already made great strides toward than the teachings of Confucianism,
democratization and possesses the neces Buddhism, and Tonghak. Clearly, Asia
sary conditions to develop democracy has democratic philosophies as profound
even beyond the level of the West. as those of the West.
Democratic Ideals. It is widely accepted Democratic Institutions. Asia also has
that English political philosopher John many democratic traditions. When
Locke laid the foundation for modern Western societies were still being ruled

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 Kim Dae Jung
by a succession of feudal lords, China and invention of the electoral system is Europe's
Korea had already sustained county pre greatest accomplishment. The fact that this
fecture systems for about 2,000 years. system was developed elsewhere does not
The government of the Chin Dynasty, mean that "it will not work" in Asia.
founded by Chin-shih huang-ti (literally, Many Asian countries, including Singa
the founder of Chin), practiced the rule pore, have become prosperous after adopt
of law and saw to it that everyone, ing a "Western" free-market economy,
regardless of class, was treated fairly. For which is such an integral part of a democ
nearly 1,000 years in China and Korea, racy. Incidentally, in countries where eco
even the sons of high-ranking officials nomic development preceded political
were not appointed to important official advancement?Germany, Italy, Japan,
positions unless they passed civil service Spain?it was only a matter of time before
examinations. These stringent tests were democracy followed.
administered to members of the aristo The State of Democracy in Asia. The
cratic class, who constituted over ten per best proof that democracy can work in
cent of the population, thus guaranteeing Asia is the fact that, despite the stubborn
equal opportunity and social mobility, resistance of authoritarian rulers like Lee,
which are so central to popular democracy. Asia has made great strides toward
This practice sharply contrasted with that democracy. In fact, Asia has achieved the
of European fiefdoms ofthat time, where most remarkable record of democratiza
pedigree more or less determined one's tion of any region since 1974. By 1990 a
official position. In China and Korea pow majority of Asian countries were democ
erful boards of censors acted as a check racies, compared to a 45 percent democ
against imperial misrule and abuses by ratization rate worldwide.1 This
government officials. Freedom of speech achievement has been overshadowed by
was highly valued, based on the under Asia's tremendous economic success. I
standing that the nation's fate depended believe democracy will take root
on it. Confucian scholars were taught throughout Asia around the start of the
that remonstration against an erring next century. By the end of its first quar
monarch was a paramount duty. Many ter, Asia will witness an era not only of
civil servants and promising political economic prosperity, but also of flourish
elites gave their lives to protect the right ing democracy.
to free speech. I am optimistic for several reasons.
The fundamental ideas and traditions The Asian economies are moving from a
necessary for democracy existed in both capital- and labor-intensive industrial
Europe and Asia. Although Asians devel phase into an information- and technol
oped these ideas long before the Europeans ogy-intensive one. Many experts have
did, Europeans formalized comprehensive acknowledged that this new economic
and effective electoral democracy first. The world order requires guaranteed free

1 Samuel Huntington, The Third Wave, Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1991.

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 Is Culture Destiny?
dorn of information and creativity. many problems in realizing its demo
These things are possible only in a dem cratic systems. It is instructive, for
ocratic society. Thus Asia has no practi example, to remember that Europeans
cal alternative to democracy; it is a practiced democracy within the bound
matter of survival in an age of intensify aries of their nation-states but not out
ing global economic competition. The side. Until recently, the Western
world economy's changes have already democracies coddled the interests of a
meant a greater and easier flow of infor small propertied class. The democracies
mation, which has helped Asia's democ that benefited much broader majorities
ratization process. through socioeconomic investments
Democracy has been consistently were mostly established after World
practiced in Japan and India since the War II. Today, we must start with a
end of World War II. In Korea, Burma, rebirth of democracy that promotes
Taiwan, Thailand, Pakistan, the Philip freedom, prosperity, and justice both
pines, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and other within each country and among nations,
countries, democracy has been frus including the less-developed countries:
trated at times, even suspended. Never a global democracy.
theless, most of these countries have Instead of making Western culture the
democratized, and in all of them, a scapegoat for the disruptions of rapid
resilient "people power" has been economic change, it is more appropriate
demonstrated through elections and to look at how the traditional strengths
popular movements. Even in Thailand, of Asian society can provide for a better
after ten military governments, a civilian democracy. In Asia, democracy can
government has finally emerged. The encourage greater self-reliance while
Mongolian government, after a long respecting cultural values. Such a
period of one-party dictatorship, has democracy is the only true expression of
also voluntarily accepted democracy. a people, but it requires the full partici
The fundamental reason for my opti pation of all elements of society. Only
mism is this increasing awareness of the then will it have legitimacy and reflect a
importance of democracy and human country's vision.
rights among Asians themselves and Asian authoritarians misunderstand
their willingness to make the necessary the relationship between the rules of
efforts to realize these goals. Despite effective governance and the concept of
many tribulations, the torch of democ legitimacy. Policies that try to protect
racy continues to burn in Asia because people from the bad elements of eco
of the aspirations of its people. nomic and social change will never be
effective if imposed without consent; the
WE ARE THE WORLD
same policies, arrived at through public
As Asians increasingly embrace demodebate, will have the strength of Asia's
cratic values, they have the opportunity
proud and self-reliant people.
and obligation to learn from older A global democracy will recognize the
democracies. The West has experienced connection between how we treat each

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 Kim Dae Jung
other and how we treat nature, and it will inated by Greek and Judeo-Christian
pursue policies that benefit future genera ideas and traditions. Now it is time for
tions. Today we are threatening the sur the world to turn to China, India, and
vival of our environment through the rest of Asia for another revolution in
wholesale destruction and endangerment ideas. We need to strive for a new
of all species. Our democracy must democracy that guarantees the right of
become global in the sense that it extends personal development for all human
to the skies, the earth, and all things with beings and the wholesome existence of
brotherly affection. all living things.
The Confucian maxim Xiushen qijia A natural first step toward realizing
zhiguo pingtianxia, which offers counsel such a new democracy would be full
toward the ideal of "great peace under adherence to the Universal Declaration
heaven," shows an appreciation for judi of Human Rights, adopted by the United
cious government. The ultimate goal in Nations in 1948. This international docu
Confucian political philosophy, as stated ment reflects basic respect for the dignity
in this aphorism, is to bring peace under of people, and Asian nations should take
heaven (pingtianxia). To do so, one the lead in implementing it.
must first be able to keep one's own The movement for democracy in Asia
household in order {qijid)y which in turn has been carried forward mainly by Asia's
requires that one cultivate "self" small but effective army of dedicated
{xiushen). This teaching is a political people in and out of political parties,
philosophy that emphasizes the role of encouraged by nongovernmental and
government and stresses the ruling quasi-governmental organizations for
elite's moral obligation to strive to bring democratic development from around the
about peace under heaven. Public safety, world. These are hopeful signs for Asia's
national security, and water and forest democratic future. Such groups are gain
management are deemed critical. This ing in their ability to force governments
concept of peace under heaven should to listen to the concerns of their people,
be interpreted to include peaceful living and they should be supported.
and existence for all things under Asia should lose no time in firmly
heaven. Such an understanding can also establishing democracy and strengthen
be derived from Gautama Buddha's ing human rights. The biggest obstacle
teaching that all creatures and things is not its cultural heritage but the resis
possess a Buddha-like quality. tance of authoritarian rulers and their
Since the fifth century B.C., the apologists. Asia has much to offer the
world has witnessed a series of revolu rest of the world; its rich heritage of
tions in thought. Chinese, Indian, democracy-oriented philosophies and
Greek, and Jewish thinkers have led traditions can make a significant contri
great revolutions in ideas, and we are bution to the evolution of global democ
still living under the influence of their racy. Culture is not necessarily our
insights. However, for the past several destiny. Democracy is.?
hundred years, the world has been dorn

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