Emerging Concepts of Citizenship in the Asian Context

Abstract

Many people, either explicitly or implicitly, hold a linear view that modernisation and democratisation should be a cumulative point of a country’s development. There is also a widespread belief that modernisation and democratisation are both necessary for development. Also, it is widely held that the two are interdependent or interstimulating. If one side develops, the other side will be handicapped without a parallel development of its counterparts. A famous enquiry by Norman Jacobs (1971) is featured in his book that asks the question: Modernisation without development? To him, modernisation without a democratic structure cannot result in development. However, global experience has witnessed the emergence of postmodern conceptions on the one hand, and economic development without major democratisation in many countries on the other. Many of these economies are located in Asia, and within Asia, China is an obvious example. Samuel Huntington, while making efforts to track worldwide patterns of democratisation, increasingly identifies cultural forces that may influence democratisation and development. With reference to Asia, he observes,

... while recognizing the differences among Asian societies and civilizations, East Asians argue that there are also significant commonalities. Central among these, one Chinese dissident observed, is the shared rejection of individualism and the prevalence of ‘soft’ authoritarianism or very limited forms of democracy. Asian societies have common interests vis-à-vis the West in defending these distinctive values and promoting interests.own economic interests. (Huntington, 1996, p. 108)