ASIAN VALUES FROM THE POLITICAL PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

This paper attempts to make a generalization on the values of Asian societies, though with examples of only from some selected Asian societies. By recognizing each society differs in details with one another, we shall argue that there is a general pattern and some similarities in terms of what we called Asian values among them. Most obvious to us is that religion and belief systems seem to form the core values of almost all Asian societies whether it is Islam, Buddhism, Confucianism and others, past and present. Secondly, in most societies too, religion seems to become an integral part of their political systems in the past and the present time. The transformative impact of modernization from the West does not seem to erode this traditional characteristics of most Asian societies.