1.Is democracy inimical with 'Asian values' or 2. 'China's interests Essay

1.Is democracy inimical with 'Asian values' or 2. 'China's interests in the Asia-Pacific region are inherently incompatible with those of the United States,an - Essay Example In the Asia Pacific, where earlier Japan had been the only democracy, five new democratic states emerged by the mid-1990s. In 1986, the Philippines became a democratic country, the next year South Korea and Taiwan, in 1990 Mongolia, and in 1992, Thailand emerged as a democracy. These changes occurred in the presence of authoritarian rule in China, Vietnam, Burma, Singapore and Malaysia. However, it is stated that the emergence of electoral democracy, has to be devleoped into consolidation of democratic rule (Shin & Wells, 2005: 88). According to Berger (2004: 181), some of the â€Å"Asian values† that authoritarian governments emphasize are: obedience to authority, discipline, allegiance to community which has to be given priority over the individual, unity among ethnic groups, strong kinship with family and mutual economic activities, thrift, hard work, loyalty to the extended family, filial piety, and most importantly, respect for education. The Asia-Pacific region encompasses eighteen countries and territories which vary greatly in size and population from China to Singapore. Economically, China still belongs to the third world, whereas Singapore is in the category of a newly industrialized economy. According to Pempel (2005: 57-58), on a per capita basis, Japan is far ahead of China both in purchasing parity power GDP and in market GDP. Greater economic disparities are present between Japan and Vietman, and between Japan and Burma. Similarly, there are wide differences in religion, culture, historical associations, social traditions, language, ethnicity and political systems among the countries of the region (Yahuda, 2004: 9). Many of the divisions in the Asia-Pacific cut across state borders, create tensions between regional states, and increase the problems of nation building and consolidating state power. Further, the colonial legacy has resulted in territorial disputes among the Southeast Asian states, and led to

Journal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 3

Journal - Essay Example As an initial matter, being in a multiple mixed-culture country exposes one to a variety of ideas and perspectives. This is because there are layers upon layers of cultural variants. You cannot even speak of Korean-Americans as a totally homogenous group because there are different generations of Korean-Americans. For example, a second generation Korean American is likely to view Korean and American values and traditions differently than a second-generation Korean American. You may ask questions about the Korean War or the current conflict between North Korea and South Korea and receive different answers or different philosophical or theoretical approached to the issue being discussed. Some Americans may not even know about the Korean conflict; in the culturally mixed context, however, there are always some people with knowledge or first hand experience. In America, for example, there are former Russians from the Soviet Union, there are Vietnamese who were military leaders during the war, there are Jews who survived the Holocaust, and there are people with nearly every conceivable experience in our world. In a very real way, by having such a diverse population, it is very much like having a human encyclopedia within America's national boundaries. There is an additional benefit not offered in culturally homogenous countries; more specifically, people can actually immerse themselves in different cultural settings and traditions without having to travel abroad. In America, for example, there are many parts of the country where certain cultural traditions have manifested themselves physically in the form of towns or regions. In San Francisco, you can visit Chinatown or Little Italy. In Los Angeles there is an officially recognized Thai Town. All over the country there are places where cultural traditions are proudly displayed. A person wishing to experience some of the Chinese culture, for instance, does not necessarily need to fly to China. You can visit a Chinatown, whether in San Francisco or New York, and have a similar experience. Many of the people will be speaking Chinese, shops are operated in much the same way as in China, and the Chinese language and symbols are to be seen everywhere. There was a famous Hollywood movie, the title which I cannot recall, where a Chinese-American told a policeman "this is not Brooklyn. This is not even New York. This is Chinatown." The point is that the multiple mixed-race countries offer people to immerse themselves to some extant and therefore learn about and from other cultures. One weekend might be celebrating the Chinese New Year and another spent experiencing a traditional Catholic mass in Little Italy. It is very much like having many countries in one. Finally, it is fascinating to observe and learn how people from different backgrounds, be they racial or religious, can co-exist in furtherance of a common good. It would be inaccurate to suggest that all races co-exist harmoniously. This is simply not the case; nonetheless, it is amazing to see how well the majority of people get along well