Beyond Liberal Democracy

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.

Acknowledgments xi

Chapter 1: Introduction: One Size Doesn't Fit All 1
The Uniquely Parochial Development of Liberal Democracy 4
Human Rights for an East Asian Context 9
Democracy for an East Asian Context 11
Capitalism for an East Asian Context 14
A Note on the Culturally Sensitive Approach to
Political Theorizing 17


Part One: Human Rights for an East Asian Context


Chapter 2: Just War and Confucianism: Implications for the Contemporary World 23
The Ideal World versus the Nonideal World 24
General Confucian Principles of Good Government 31
Mencius on Just and Unjust War 35
Implications for Contemporary Societies 40


Chapter 3: Human Rights and "Values in Asia": Reflections on East-West Dialogues 52
Trade-offs and Priorities 55
Asian Justifications for Human Rights 62
Values in Asia versus Western Liberalism: Justifiable Moral
Differences? 72
Cross-Cultural Dialogues on Human Rights:
What Is the Point? 78


Chapter 4: The Ethical Challenges of International Human Rights NGOs: Reflections on Dialogues between Practitioners and Theorists 84
The Challenge of Cultural Conflict 87
The Challenge of Dealing with Global Poverty 92
The Challenge of Dealing with States That Restrict the Activities of INGOs 103
The Challenge of Fund-Raising 107
Implications for INGOs in East Asia 111


Part Two: Democracy for an East Asian Context


Chapter 5: What's Wrong with Active Citizenship? A Comparison of Physical Education in Ancient Greece and Ancient China 121
Two Ancient Civilizations 123
Why Compare State-Sponsored Physical Education in the Two Ancient Civilizations? 132
Political Competition and Sports Competition 134
Commercial Societies, Leisure Time, and the Pursuit of Physical Excellence 143
Implications for Contemporary East Asian Societies 146


Chapter 6: Taking Elitism Seriously: Democracy with Confucian Characteristics 152
Political Elitism and Democracy: Two Important Values 153
Institutionalizing Confucian Democracy 162


Chapter 7: Is Democracy the "Least Bad" System for Minority Groups? 180
Some Definitions 185
Democracy and Nation Building 190
Implications for Outside Prodemocracy Forces 202


Chapter 8: Democratic Education in a Multicultural Context: Lessons from Singapore 206
Singapore's Political History 207
Racism in the Classroom? 211
Inclusive Multiculturalism 215
Beyond Singapore? 218


Part Three: Capitalism for an East Asian Context


Chapter 9: Culture and Egalitarian Development: Confucian Constraints on Property Rights 231
On the Selection of Feasible and Desirable Confucian Values for Modern Societies 234
The Overriding Value of Material Welfare 237
The Value of Care for Needy Family Members 243
Exporting Confucianism? 251


Chapter 10: East Asian Capitalism for an Age of Globalization 255
East Asian Capitalism and Economic Productivity 259
East Asian Capitalism and Social Welfare 271
Implications for Public Policy 278


Chapter 11: Justice for Migrant Workers? The Case of Migrant Domestic Workers in East Asia 281
The Political Concerns of Foreign Domestic Workers in Hong Kong and Singapore 283
Should Foreign Domestic Workers Be Given Equal Rights? 290
The Role of Culture 305
Migrant Domestic Workers in Mainland China 313


Chapter 12: Responses to Critics: The Real and the Ideal 323


Selected Bibliography 343
Index 369