Confucianism and Democratization in East Asia

For decades, scholars and politicians have vigorously debated whether Confucianism is compatible with democracy, yet little is known about its effect on democratization in East Asia. In this book, Doh Chull Shin examines the prevalence of core Confucian legacies and their connection to 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 most East Asians are discouraged from understanding democracy in liberal terms and from embracing non-liberal, communitarian democracy even though Confucian legacies are not binding. Thus, Shin argues that Confucianism can contribute to the establishment of a new, innovative political system that combines the best of Confucian and democratic ideals of good government.