Beyond liberal democracy : political thinking for an East Asian context / Daniel A. Bell.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Bell, Daniel (Daniel A.), 1964-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Democracy--East Asia.

Democracy.

Human rights--East Asia.

Human rights.

Capitalism--East Asia.

Capitalism.

East Asia--Politics and government.

East Asia.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (394 p.)

Edition:

Course Book

Place of Publication:

Princeton, N.J. : Princeton University Press, c2006.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Is liberal democracy appropriate for East Asia? In this provocative book, Daniel Bell argues for morally legitimate alternatives to Western-style liberal democracy in the region. Beyond Liberal Democracy, which continues the author's influential earlier work, is divided into three parts that correspond to the three main hallmarks of liberal democracy--human rights, democracy, and capitalism. These features have been modified substantially during their transmission to East Asian societies that have been shaped by nonliberal practices and values. Bell points to the dangers of implementing Western-style models and proposes alternative justifications and practices that may be more appropriate for East Asian societies. If human rights, democracy, and capitalism are to take root and produce beneficial outcomes in East Asia, Bell argues, they must be adjusted to contemporary East Asian political and economic realities and to the values of nonliberal East Asian political traditions such as Confucianism and Legalism. Local knowledge is therefore essential for realistic and morally informed contributions to debates on political reform in the region, as well as for mutual learning and enrichment of political theories. Beyond Liberal Democracy is indispensable reading for students and scholars of political theory, Asian studies, and human rights, as well as anyone concerned about China's political and economic future and how Western governments and organizations should engage with China.

Contents:

One size doesn't fit all

The uniquely parochial development of liberal democracy

Human rights for an East Asian context

Democracy for an East Asian context

Capitalism for an East Asian context

A note on the culturally sensitive approach to political theorizing

Just war and Confucianism : implications for the contemporary world

The ideal world versus nonideal theory

General Confucian principles of good government

Mencius on just and unjust war

Implications for contemporary societies

Human rights and "values in Asia" : reflections on East-West dialogues

Trade-offs and priorities

Asian justifications for human rights

Values in Asia versus Western liberalism : justifiable moral differences?

Cross-cultural dialogues on human rights : what is the point?

The ethical challenges of international human rights NGOs : reflections on dialogues between practitioners and theorists

The challenge of cultural conflict

The challenge of dealing with global poverty

The challenge of dealing with states that restrict the activities of INGOs

The challenge of fund-raising

Implications for INGOs in East Asia

What's wrong with active citizenship? a comparison of physical education in ancient Greece and ancient China

Two ancient civilizations

Why compare state-sponsored physical education in the two ancient civilizations?

Political competition and sports competition

Commercial societies, leisure time, and the pursuit of physical excellence

Implications for contemporary East Asian societies

Taking elitism seriously : democracy with Confucian characteristics

Political elitism and democracy : two important values

Institutionalizing Confucian democracy

Is democracy the "least bad" system for minority groups?

Some definitions

Democracy and nation building

Implications for outside prodemocracy forces

Democratic education in a multicultural context : lessons from Singapore

Singapore's political history

Racism in the classroom?

Inclusive multiculturalism

Beyond Singapore?

Culture and egalitarian development : Confucian constraints on property rights

On the selection of feasible and desirable Confucian values for modern societies

The overriding value of material welfare

The value of care for needy family members

Exporting Confucianism?

East Asian capitalism for an age of globalization

East Asian capitalism and economic productivity

East Asian capitalism and social welfare

Implications for public policy

Justice for migrant workers? the case of migrant domestic workers in East Asia

The political concerns of foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong and Singapore

Should foreign domestic workers be given equal rights?

The role of culture

Migrant domestic workers in mainland China

Responses to critics : the real and the ideal.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references (p. [343]-367) and index.

Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (publisher's Web site, viewed 08. Jul 2019)

ISBN:

9786612935459

9786612129377

9781282129375

1282129376

9781282935457

1282935453

9781400827466

1400827469

OCLC:

368335005