Confucian Values And Japans Industrialization :: essays research papers

Confucian Values and japans IndustrializationMany factors helped countenance in the dynamic growth that occurred in Japan andthe four little dragons during the stigmatise- being war 2 period. Some of thesefactors were situational factors unique to the time but some of the factors werecultural. The bequest of Confucianism in Japan and the four little dragons helpedto further the goals of industrialization that these nations had. The usagesof Confucianism provided for Japan and the four little dragons both a pliantpublic and a model for choosing competent leading.Confucian traditions placed an emphasis on the determine of the group overthe individual. This helped industrialism by creating a pliant populace who were willing to accept long hours and low wages and not question political relation policies.The traditions of Confucianism taught workers not to question authority. Thesetraditions carried over into the post war period and allowed peremptoryregimes in the four little dr agons to go unquestioned by the public. This neglectof dissent allowed the four little dragons to have stable governments which werecritical to investiture and industrialization. The stability of these nations wasa direct result of Confucian values existence indoctrinated into the population.Confucian placement of the group over the individual and strong dogma in filialpiety also caused families and local communities to accept hearty responsibilityfor members of their community. This safety net that was provided by communitiesand families allowed the government to limit its outgo on social welfareprograms and thus channel more bullion into infrastructure and industry.Confucianism also placed an emphasis on self-cultivation which has helped eastmostAsian Countries to have a skilled and ambitious work force. The tradition ofself-cultivation like the work ethic that Max Weber assign Protestantism ofproducing lead people to strive to acquire new skills, speak alien languages,a nd in the offices and businesses of Japan, drive workers to strive with intheir firms to improve group performance.Confucian traditions also placed emphasis on the creation of ameritocratic elite and the use of entrance exams. These traditions were in placebefore World War 2 in the East Asian countries but they helped aid in thecarrying out of the industrial policies of the post-war government of Japan andthe little Dragons. The traditional system of a meritocratic elite was adoptedin the post war years in the form of meritocraticly chosen bureaucracy that makeand carried out many government policies. This elite was free from many of thestrains of politics and thus was able to carry out policies that democraticallyelected leaders might not be able to pursue do to the changing feelings of the