The politics of ‘Asian values’

Abstract It is argued in this article that a range of conservative and authoritarian political ideologies have been presented by their Asian proponents as culturally embodied in Asian society. By doing this they seek to insulate their position from both domestic and international critics. However, the organic‐statist values implicit in ‘Asian values’ come under pressure as industrial capitalism transforms Asian society and the region's economics become internationalized. Ironically, ‘Asian values’ is hailed as a model for the future by market‐oriented neo‐conservatives in the West. These find common cause in the particular amalgam of social conservatism with policies emphasizing economic growth.