Confucian Values And Japans Industrialization :: essays research papers

Confucian Values and lacquers IndustrializationMany factors helped aid in the dynamic growth that occurred in Japan andthe four picayune dragons during the post-World War 2 period. Some of thesefactors were situational factors unique to the time but some of the factors werecultural. The legacy of Confucianism in Japan and the four brusk dragons helpedto further the goals of industrialization that these nations had. The traditionsof Confucianism provided for Japan and the four little dragons both a pliantpublic and a model for choosing competent leaders.Confucian traditions placed an emphasis on the values of the conclave all overthe individual. This helped industrialism by creating a pliant populace who werewilling to accept long hours and low wages and not move politics policies.The traditions of Confucianism taught workers not to question authority. Thesetraditions carried over into the post war period and allowed authoritarianregimes in the four little dragons to go unques tioned by the public. This lackof dissent allowed the four little dragons to have stable governments which werecritical to investment and industrialization. The stability of these nations wasa direct result of Confucian values being indoctrinated into the population.Confucian placement of the group over the individual and strong belief in filialpiety also caused families and local communities to accept social responsibilityfor members of their community. This safety net that was provided by communitiesand families allowed the government to limit its spending on social welfareprograms and thus channel more funds into infrastructure and industry.Confucianism also placed an emphasis on self-education which has helped EastAsian 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 foreign languages,and 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 elect 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 madeand 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 keep an eye on do to the changing feelings of the