Is Culture Destiny?

The Myth of Asia's Anti-Democratic Values

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

Is Culture Destiny?
The Myth ofAsia'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
Lee Kuan Yew, presents over socialism. But I believe it
prime minister, capitalism
interesting ideas about cultural differences represented the triumph of democracy
and East Asian societies over
between Western 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.
his statements the The many Latin American states that in
itly say so, throughout
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 inwhich itwill not work" democratic or democratic
capitalism
implies thatWestern-style democracy is socialism, despite temporary setbacks,
not to East Asia. have prospered.
applicable Considering
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 raisedmainly by
deserves a careful Asia's authoritarian leaders, Lee being
reply.
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.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS- November/December1994 [ 18 9 ]

 Kim Dae Jung
differences make the "Western concept" strongly implying that democracy will
of democracy and human not work in Asia.
rights inapplic
able to East Asia. Does Asia have the
FAMILY VALUES (REQUIRED HERE)
philosophical and historical underpin
nings for democracy?
suitable 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 in private matters and taking on
vening
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 nor is it individuals and families. In Korea, for
society's fate,
immutable. Moreover, Lee's view of each household is required to
example,
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 intrudes into the
constantly
his family" and that the family is "the business world to protect
perceived
brick of society." However, as an national interests, to the
point of causing
building
inevitable consequence of industrializa disputes with theUnited States and
tion, the family-centered East Asian other trading partners. In Lee's Singa
societies are also toward pore, the government stringently regu
rapidly moving
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 and so on?to an Orwellian
littering,
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
cites this ostensibly self Asia's are minimalist. Lee
provides." He governments
reliant, family-oriented culture as the makes these false claims to justify his
suc
main cause of East Asia's economic rejection ofWestern-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
even as he worries democracy, saying that he is not "intel
society's problems,
about the moral breakdown ofWestern convinced" it is best.
lectually
societies due to too much democracy and Opinions like Lee's hold considerable
some
too many individual
rights.
Conse sway not only inAsia but among
to Lee, theWestern Westerners because of the moral break
quently, according
its intrusive gov down of many advanced democratic soci
political system, with
ernment, is not suited to eties. Many Americans thought, for
family-oriented
East Asia. He Westernization that the U.S. citizen Michael
rejects example,
its the caning he received from
while embracing modernization and Fay deserved
attendant in lifestyle?again authorities for his act of
changes Singaporean

FOREIGN AFFAIRS Volume73No.6

[ico]
 Is Culture Destiny?
vandalism. moral breakdown is to Locke, sover
However, democracy. According
attributable not to inherent eign rights reside with the people and,
shortcomings
ofWestern 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 which the people can withdraw. But
spreading through Asia's
societies. The fact almost two millennia before Locke, Chi
newly industrializing
that Lee's Singapore, a small nese
city-state, philosopher Meng-tzu preached
needs a near-totalitarian
police
state to similar ideas.According to his "Politics
assert control over its citizens contradicts of RoyalWays," the king is the "Son of
his assertion that everything would be all Heaven," and heaven bestowed on its
if governments would refrain from son a mandate to
right provide good govern
to
interfering in the private affairs of the ment, that is, 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 state but to overthrow his government in the name
police emphasize
ethical education, give high regard to of heaven. Meng-tzu
even
justified regi
stan once a
spiritual values, and promote high cide, saying that 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 to second, and the king third. The ancient
objection
"foisting"
an alien system "indiscrimi Chinese philosophy o?Minben Zhengchi,
nately on societies inwhich itwill not or
"people-based politics," teaches that
work." The question iswhether democ "thewill of the people is thewill of
racy is a system so alien to Asian cultures heaven" and that one should "respect the
that itwill not work. Moreover, consider as heaven" itself.
people
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 has been given a and motivated half a million
peas
democracy nearly
chance in places like Singapore. ants in 1894 to revolt against exploitation
A thorough analysis makes it clear that by feudalistic government internally and
has a rich heritage of democracy-ori forces are
Asia imperialistic externally. There
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 has democratic as
develop democracy philosophies profound
even beyond the level of theWest. as those of theWest.
Democratic Ideals. It iswidely Democratic Institutions. Asia also has
accepted
that English political philosopher John many democratic traditions. When
Locke laid the foundation for modern Western societies were still being ruled

FOREIGN AFFAIRS November/December 1994 [i?l]

 Kim Dae Jung
a succession of feudal lords, China and invention of the electoral
by system is Europe's
Korea had already sustained county pre greatest The fact that this
accomplishment.
fecture systems for about 2,000 years. system was elsewhere does not
developed
The government of the Chin mean that "it will not work" inAsia.
Dynasty,
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 to official
appointed important advancement?Germany, Italy, Japan,
unless civil service was amatter of time before
positions they passed Spain?it only
examinations. These tests were followed.
stringent democracy
administered to members of the aristo The State inAsia. The
ofDemocracy
cratic class, who constituted over ten per best proof that democracy in can work
cent of the thus guaranteeing Asia is the fact that, despite the stubborn
population,
equal opportunity and socialmobility, resistance of authoritarian rulers like Lee,
which are so central to Asia has made great strides toward
popular democracy.
This practice sharply contrasted with that democracy. In fact, Asia has achieved the
of European fiefdoms
ofthat time, where most remarkable record of democratiza
more or less determined one's tion of any region since 1974. By 1990 a
pedigree
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
ratization rate worldwide.1 This
against imperial misrule and abuses by

government officials. Freedom of speech achievement has been overshadowed by

was based on the under Asia's tremendous economic success. I
highly valued,
standing that the nation's fate depended believe democracy will take root
on it. Confucian scholars were Asia around the start of the
taught throughout
that remonstration an next century. By the end of its first quar
against erring
was a paramount Asia will witness an era not
monarch duty. Many ter, only of
civil servants and promising economic but also of flourish
political prosperity,
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 from a
moving
necessary for democracy existed in both capital- and labor-intensive industrial

Europe andAsia. 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 The Third Wave, Norman: University of Oklahoma

Huntington, Press, 1991.

[192] FOREIGN AFFAIRS Volume73No.6

 Is Culture Destiny?
dorn of information and creativity. many problems in realizing its demo
are a
These things possible only in dem cratic systems. It is instructive, for
no to remember
ocratic society. Thus Asia has practi example, 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, theWestern

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. socioeconomic investments
through
has been were established after World
Democracy consistently mostly
practiced in Japan and India since the War II. Today, we must start with a
end ofWorld War II. In Korea, Burma, rebirth of democracy that promotes
Taiwan, Thailand, Pakistan, the Philip freedom, and justice both
prosperity,
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 for the disruptions of rapid
scapegoat
resilient "people power" has been economic change, it ismore appropriate
demonstrated through elections and to look at how the traditional strengths
movements. Even in Thailand, of Asian can for a better
popular society provide
after ten military governments, a civilian In Asia, can
democracy. democracy
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 a
accepted democracy. 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 effective governance and the concept of
goals. Despite
many tribulations, the torch of democ Policies that try to protect
legitimacy.
racy continues to burn in Asia because from the bad elements of eco
people
of the aspirations of its people. nomic and social never be
change will
effective if without consent; the
imposed
WE ARE THE WORLD same arrived at
policies, through public
As Asians embrace demo debate, will have the strength of Asia's
increasingly
cratic values, they have the opportunity and self-reliant
proud people.
and obligation to learn from older A global democracy will recognize the
democracies. The West has experienced connection between how we treat each

FOREIGN AFFAIRS- November/December 1994 [ 19 3 ]

 Kim Dae Jung
other and how wetreat nature, and itwill 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 that guarantees the right of
democracy
become in the sense that it extends for all human
global personal development
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 step toward
first realizing
which offers counsel such a new democracy would be full
zhiguo pingtianxia,
toward the ideal of "great peace under adherence to the Universal Declaration

heaven," shows an appreciation for judi ofHuman Rights, adopted by theUnited

in 1948. This docu
cious government. The ultimate goal in Nations international
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 own The movement for democracy in Asia
keep one's
household in order {qijid)ywhich 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
and stresses the ruling organizations for
government quasi-governmental
elite's moral to strive to democratic development from around the
obligation bring
are
about peace under heaven. Public safety, world. These hopeful signs for Asia's
water and forest democratic future. Such groups are gain
national security, and
are deemed critical. This in their to force governments
management ing ability
of peace under heaven should to listen to the concerns of their people,
concept
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 democracy and strengthen
establishing
be derived from Gautama Buddha's ing human rights. The biggest obstacle
that all creatures and things is not its cultural
heritage but the resis
teaching
a Buddha-like tance of authoritarian rulers and their
possess quality.
Since the fifth century B.C., the apologists. Asia has much to offer the
world has witnessed a series of revolu rest of theworld; its rich heritage of
tions in thought. Chinese, Indian, philosophies and
democracy-oriented
a
Greek, and Jewish thinkers have led traditions can make
significant contri
revolutions in ideas, and we are bution to the evolution of global democ
great
still living under the influence of their is not necessarily our
racy. Culture
However, for the past several destiny. Democracy is.?
insights.
hundred years, the world has been dorn

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