Confucianism and Democratization in East Asia

Examines core Confucian legacies and their impacts on civic and political orientations in six Confucian countries: China, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan and Vietnam.

Doh Chull Shin (Author)

9781107631786, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 30 December 2011

376 pages, 33 b/w illus. 47 tables
23 x 15.5 x 2 cm, 0.49 kg

'… a great strength of the book lies in the very thorough, in-depth, and balanced review of the theories related to the topic tackled in each chapter, making reading the book highly enjoyable. … this study will have a significant impact on future studies of political culture, democratization, and citizen politics.' Zhengxu Wang, Journal of Chinese Political Science

For decades, scholars and politicians have vigorously debated whether Confucianism is compatible with democracy, yet little is known about how it affects the process of democratization in East Asia. In this book, Doh Chull Shin examines the prevalence of core Confucian legacies and their impacts on civic and political orientations in six Confucian countries: China, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, and Vietnam. Analyses of the Asian Barometer and World Values surveys reveal that popular attachment to Confucian legacies has mixed results on democratic demand. While Confucian political legacies encourage demand for a non-liberal democratic government that prioritizes the economic welfare of the community over the freedom of individual citizens, its social legacies promote interpersonal trust and tolerance, which are critical components of democratic civic life. Thus, the author argues that citizens of historically Confucian Asia have an opportunity to combine the best of Confucian ideals and democratic principles in a novel, particularly East Asian brand of democracy.

Part I. Confucianism and Confucian East Asia: 1. The evolution of Confucian East Asia and its cultural legacies
2. The Confucian Asian values thesis
Part II. Upholding Confucian Values: 3. Confucianism as a hierarchical way of life
4. Confucianism as a government of paternalistic meritocracy
Part III. Engaging in Civic Life: 5. Communitarianism and civic activism
6. Familism and civic orientations
Part IV. Embracing Democracy: 7. Conceptions of democracy
8. Support for democracy
Part V. Final Thoughts: 9. Reassessing the Confucian Asian values debate.

Subject Areas: Comparative politics [JPB], Political science & theory [JPA], Social & political philosophy [HPS], Asian history [HBJF]