Asian values may not be so particularly Asian

AMONG "Asian values", hard work and thrift are often emphasised, but there is nothing particularly Asian about these virtues. They can also be counted as Christian principles. Besides, they seem natural to poor and peasant communities everywhere.

Another allegedly "Asian value" is the stress on the importance of education. But political leaders in Western countries also constantly call for improvements in education.

Asian leaders call for respect for older people and filial piety for parents. Some young people in the West may be less respectful to their elders than we would like and do not accept that wages should be related to age rather than to ability.

But elderly people in the West do have privileges -- on public transport, young people do sometimes give up their seats to old people. Western governments acknowledge that they have a duty to look after and provide health care for the aged. One "Asian value" that is less respected in the West is respect for authority. But there is general agreement in the West that authority only deserves respect when it behaves fairly and respects the rights of others.

Here perhaps, is the biggest difference between "Asian" and "Western" values. Are the rights of individuals more important than their obligations to society?

No right-thinking person in the West would deny we all have obligations to others in society. But we do perhaps attach greater importance to individual freedom than do some politicians in Asia.

The difference may be one of degree, but it is a significant distinction.

Another "Asian value" is the emphasis on the importance of achieving consensus. But this is also a major feature of politics and industry in Germany. There is less emphasis on consensus in Anglo-Saxon countries, where decisions are expected to be taken by the majority.

To observers in the West, Asian politicians sometimes seem to be using "Asian values" to justify infringements of human rights on the grounds that the exercise of such rights threatens "law and order", which they think should be paramount.

Westerners are also concerned about law and order, but we do not see this as justifying the ignoring of human rights, although in defending society against terrorism, some limits may have to be placed on the exercise of individual rights. Another aspect of "Asian values" that Japanese politicians and officials emphasise is the uniqueness and success of Japanese-style management, including lifetime employment. But Japanese management is having to change to remain competitive in an increasingly global economy.

Lifetime employment and old-style promotion systems will have to be modified as Japanese companies face essential restructuring.

Some Japanese companies take pride in attaching paramount importance to their employees, on the grounds that they are the prime stakeholders. As the Japanese keiretsu system breaks down, Japanese companies will, however, surely be forced to pay greater attention to shareholders.

I am not convinced of the superiority of "Asian values" whether it be in politics, society or industry.

Asian leaders who propound "Asian values" should try harder to define exactly what they are talking about and how these differ from Western values.

In my view, politicians should be emphasising not so much Asian or Western values as universal values and universal human rights and, possibly, universal human obligations.

Former British career diplomat Hugh Cortazzi served as ambassador to Japan from 1980 to 1984. He contributed this article to The Japan Times.