Good Government Nordic and East Asian Perspectives Geir Helgesen and Uichol Kim in collaboration with Good_Govt.pm6 1 20/08/02, 10:16 First published in 2002 by NIAS Press Nordic Institute of Asian Studies Leifsgade 33, DK–2300 Copenhagen S, Denmark tel: (+45) 3254 8844 • fax: (+45) 3296 2530 E–mail: [email protected] • Website: http://www.niaspress.dk/ in collaboration with the Danish Institute of International Affairs (DUPI) Typesetting by NIAS Press Printed and bound in Denmark by Hertz bogtrykkergården a/s Cover design by Nanna Bild © Geir Helgesen and Uichol Kim 2002 All rights reserved. No part of this volume may be reproduced in whole or in part without the express permission of authors and publisher. The responsibility for facts and opinions expressed in this publication rests exclusively with the authors, and their interpretations do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. Publication of this book was made possible thanks to economic support from the Nordic Institute of Asian Studies and the Danish Institute of International Affairs British Library Catalogue in Publication Data A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library ISBN 87-91114-16-0 Good_Govt.pm6 2 20/08/02, 10:16 Contents Preface 5 The Research Network 6 Sponsors 6 East Asian Ideals: Harmony with Nature, Acknowledgementss 6 Self and Others 40 Introduction 7 Confucianism 41 Why is it important to understand East Asian societies 43 other societies? 7 Confucianism in modern East Asia 45 East Asia and the Nordic countries: Socialization practices 45 an unequal comparison 8 Educational success 46 East is East and West is West 8 Organizations 47 Six Countries in Brief 12 Justice and organizational Denmark 12 effectiveness 48 Sweden 14 The Asian values debate 50 Finland 15 The Nordic Blend 52 China 17 A Nordic spirit? 53 Korea (Republic of) 19 Cultural roots 54 Japan 20 A peaceful Danish ‘revolution’ 55 Two regions, two cultures 22 The future 61 The ‘Good Government’ Study 23 Appendix – The Research Group and Shared values and attitudes 24 the Study 63 Nordic and East Asian differences 31 The study 63 Overall assessment 37 Samples 64 Summary and conclusion 38 Further background information 64 Values from where? 39 References 66 Good_Govt.pm6 3 20/08/02, 10:16 Good Government – Nordic and East Asian Perspectives Illustrations Figures 1Human nature 24 2Trust of people 25 3Socialization of values 26 4Role of government 27 5Government involvement 28 6Political alienation 29 7Political influence 30 8Importance of rights 31 9Satisfaction with rights 32 10 Trust of institutions 33 11 Government programmes 34 12 Qualities of political candidates 35 13 Qualities of a leader 36 14 Overall assessment 38 Photographs Photographs have been taken from a wide variety of sources – public and private –to illustrate this volume. These may not be reproduced in any shape or form without the consent of the publisher or copyright holder. 4 Good_Govt.pm6 4 20/08/02, 10:16 Preface This booklet is published a few weeks before of the modern world actually binds them the fourth Asia–Europe Meeting (ASEM) is to together. The Danish ambassador to Singapore, be held in Copenhagen in September 2002. Jørgen Ørstrøm Møller, eloquently spells out ASEM is a forum for state leaders with the basic what is needed when he states that: aim of developing relations between the two regions. The research group behind this [t]olerance is not to open the floodgates for publication was inspired by the ASEM initiative everybody to behave as they like. Tolerance of 1996, but has worked independently of the constitutes the right to think and act differently than other people but within a mutually agreed ASEM process. As concerned scholars from framework. Tolerance defined in this way forces both the Nordic countries and East Asia, we us to know precisely where we stand ourselves. decided to embark upon a study that could Other opinions must be measured against our con-tribute to bridging the cultural gap own opinion. We must know what we think and between the two regions. Thus, in 1997 this why we think in the way we do – what is our group decided to form the Eurasia Political mindset and why do we have it and why do we think it is the right one for us? Thinking in this Culture Research Network (EPCReN) con- way opens the door for realizing that what is sortium, and developed a questionnaire aimed best for us may not necessarily be best for at gauging attitudes and opinions about good others. And that gives birth to the crucial government in East Asia and the Nordic observation that the heart of tolerance is that countries respectively. It is our hope that Good we care for other peoples’ destiny even if we do Government – Nordic and East Asian Perspectives not agree with them. Understanding is the key to tolerance. And communication is the key to will provide food for thought for people understanding how other people think and why interested in the world in which we live. We it may be different from what we think. Unless approached this study without preconceived we communicate and try to understand each notions, focusing on themes and issues deemed other, there is no hope of comparing different of importance to the relationship between ways of thinking with the ultimate objective of government and the governed. We have found shaping a set of values to serve as the mutually agreed framework. Without such a framework similarities and we have found differences. Both tolerance becomes a beautiful but empty shell. are part of a larger picture comparing East to And without striving for that objective there is West. There are reasons to believe that the East– not much hope for internationalism. (NIAS West gap can and will be bridged. One reason, Nytt No. 2, 2002, p.10) interestingly enough, is that both sides have rich cultural traditions that have survived It is in this spirit that we present our research modernization and will survive globalization. results, hopeful that they can contribute to the Despite differences, the fact that both sides ongoing project of building a bridge of East– cherish their traditions while developing as part West understanding. 5 Good_Govt.pm6 5 20/08/02, 10:16 Good Government – Nordic and East Asian Perspectives The Research Network Sponsors The ‘Good Government’ study was conducted Basic support for the project was granted by as a collaborative project with the following the Danish Social Science Research Council, active participants: Prof. Shen Mingming, which financed salary, overhead and fieldwork Director, Research Center for Contemporary expenses for the network coordinator from China, Peking University; Prof. Ken’ichi Ikeda, September 1997 to September 2000. Additional Department of Social Psychology, Tokyo research support was granted by the following University; Prof. Susumu Yamaguchi, Depart- foundations: ment of Social Psychology, Tokyo University; •The Korea Foundation Prof. Ahn Byong Man, President, Hankuk •The Velux Foundation of 1981 University of Foreign Studies, Seoul; Prof. •The Bank of Sweden Tercentenary Hahm Chai Bong, Dept. of Political Science, Foundation Yonsei University, Seoul; Prof. Lew Seok- •The European Science Foundation, Asia Choon, Institute of Sociology, Yonsei Uni- Committee versity, Seoul; Prof. Kim Uichol, Department •The Swedish Foundation for of Psychology, Chung-Ang University, Seoul; International Cooperation in Research Prof. Torbjörn Lodén, Department of Oriental and Higher Education Languages, Stockholm University; Oscar •The Asia Research Fund Almén, doctoral candidate, Peace and Develop- ment Studies, Gothenburg University; Prof. •The Danish Foreign Policy Institute Åke Daun, Department of Ethnology, Stock- The project has been based at the Nordic holm University; Dr. Annamari Konttinen, Institute of Asian Studies (NIAS) in Copenhagen, Department of Sociology, University of Turku; which has also partly financed the present Tage Bild, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, publication. Copenhagen University; Prof. Søren Risbjerg Thomsen, Department of Political Science, Aarhus University, Ass. Prof. Hans-Jørgen Acknowledgements Nielsen; Department of Political Science, Copenhagen University; Geir Helgesen, senior We wish to express thanks to the following: Yeo researcher and network coordinator, Nordic Lay Hwee, who functioned as external adviser; Institute of Asian Studies. Søren Risbjerg Thomsen and Søren Ziebe for con- tributing picture material; Marianne Espehain Nielsen and Inga-Lill Blomqvist of NIAS LINC (Library and Information Centre) for providing background information; Cecilia Milwertz for academic advice; and Liz Bramsen, Leena Höskuldsson and Gerald Jackson of NIAS Press for providing editorial assistance, technical expertise, and an effort above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that this production reached the presses on time. 6 Good_Govt.pm6 6 20/08/02, 10:16 Introduction This small publication aims to enhance and broaden mutual understanding between East and West. In this post-cold-war era, a unique chance exists to take advantage of the fact that Europe and Asia are both part of the same land mass (Japan being located nearby on the Eastern fringe). Despite geographical distances and traditional hindrances such as differences in language and cultural traits, we now have a chance of building something together. We now have an opportunity to see Eurasia as an entity that already exists physically, but has to be created and shaped by people mentally. Globalization presents a challenge to societies and cultures all over the world. The reaction to this challenge should not be isolationism and xenophobia, but rather the creation of new and stronger bonds between societies and cultures. International coopera- tion in the political field and growing economic interdependence demand popular consent – in fact, popular support – to reach their full potential. Even though international cooperation seldom springs from grassroots activities, it defy borders; consequently, social and political must eventually attract popular support in problems also transgress borders.