Recently, there are many different cultures and tradition according to their situations and conditions of their country and region. Regarding to this variety, it is hard to identify anything in common among nations. However, after the collapse of Soviet Union in the early 1990s, some scholars have mentioned that democracy has been considered as universal value when countries, previously follow communist system, have turned to democracy political system. In this regard, this paper will elaborate the varieties of value raised in various regions and examine if democracy could be considered as universal value, as mentioned by various scholars.
To define anything as a value, Schwartz mentioned that a value is a (1) belief (2) pertaining to desirable end states or modes of conduct, that (3) transcends specific situations, (4) guides selection or evaluation of behavior, people, and events, and (5) is ordered by importance relative to other values to form a system of value priorities (Schwartz, Are There Universal Aspects in the Structure and Content of Human Values?, 1994). And he also added that “value is what important to everyone’s life”, and there are three requirements of universal value “needs of individuals, requisites of coordinated social interaction, and survival and welfare needs of groups” (Schwartz, 2012). Moreover, in order to define anything as a universal value, Amartya Sen pointed out that universality of value needs to focus on understanding human needs, rights and duties, and it has to serve and maintain people’s diversity of beliefs, dignity and value. He argued that the universal value does not require concurrence from everyone, but it does need to have value for all or most people in anywhere on earth (Sen, 1999). Furthermore, UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights also grab their attention to peace, freedom, equal rights, human dignity and social development (Annan, 2003). It means that universal value need to be related to human’s need, rights and duties, and it doesn’t require everyone to recognize it, but, if it satisfies most people, it is enough.
In Western perception, "Western culture" is used very broadly to refer to a heritage of social norms, ethical values, traditional customs, religious beliefs, political systems, and specific artifacts and technologies. Specifically, Western culture may imply a Graeco-Roman Classical and Renaissance cultural influence, concerning artistic, philosophic, literary, and legal themes and traditions, the cultural social effects of migration period and the heritages of CelticGermanic etc. ethnic groups, as well as a tradition of rationalism in various spheres of life, developed by Hellenistic philosophy, Scholasticism, Humanisms, the Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment, and including, in political thought, widespread rational arguments in favor of free thought human rights, equality and democratic values averse to irrationality and theocracy (JARIYA, 2012). In short, western culture give value to their cultural heritage that concerning on the protection and promotion of human rights, equality and democratic values.
On the other hand, in Asia, since the end of cold war, many Asian nations are on their growth stage resulted from their economic success and encouraged by the decline of the Western system. This ‘Asianisation of Asia’ witnessed countries such as Singapore and Malaysia assert the validity of ‘Asian values’ as a counter to Western or universal values. One of prominent cases is former Singapore leading Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, who ruled Singapore by “soft” authoritarian political system. He underscores that there is a need of different approach to be applied in East Asia, and this approach must be different from the west (Bova, 1997). Lee believed that those western concept couldn’t be applied in Asia. In Asia, people have different perception and culture that doesn’t fit with western concept. Similarly, for Japanese case, Bova also mentioned that Japan does not apply the Western style democracy to rule the country but rather a soft tyrannical model control the country and boost economic growth. They have their own way and model to economic growth without copying the western model.
Recently, when the globalization have been spread across the globe, western aid and support have been given to many developing countries. Along with those supports, western culture and value; specifically, democratic political system have been introduced to those countries, and more or less, those countries need to follow it in order to obtain aid and supports. There is a gradual growing tendency of democracy popularity around the world, especially in wealthier countries and countries that used to be ruled by communist government. Amartya Sen has discovered that in people in post-communist European countries with healthy economic growth after becoming democratic countries are more in favor to democracy value compared to those in the poorer countries (Sen, 1999). Sen also figured out some functions of democracy in a society as following; securing political freedom (right to vote and demonstration in particular), recognition of election result, safeguarding of liberties and freedoms, assurance of free discussion and circulation of unrestricted news, exchanges of constructive views and enhancement of government accountability in addressing people’s concerns over their basic needs and economic development (Sen, 1999). Democracy play significant role in economic growth, and can prevent the disaster in economic and social as well. Democracy can help to shape economic of the country and led it to a successful economic growth. We can say that democracy is a tool that could promote people’s participation to political podium, and it help people to exercise their rights and concerns/needs in order to improve government policy and influence on politicians through the election for living standard advancement. In addition, Michael McFacul argued to the statement; “Wealthier countries do have a greater prospect of sustaining democratic regimes than poorer countries.” (McFaul, 2004). He showed that there is little evidence suggests that only wealthy people prefer democracy, and cultural and religious differences vary their support for democracy as a universal value. He also suggested that support for democracy is robust and at relatively similar levels in every region of the world. Furthermore, in Arab world, any form of their government, it doesn’t affect to the general concept of democracy, but the most important thing that matter is about the rights of women and their treatment on women.
As elaborated above, I could say that democracy could be said as universal value. The government form of democracy could provide more space for people to engage with their own respective state’s affair. They could raise their voice to the government on the needs and concerns in society. Moreover, democracy could promote people living standard as they open their economy and promote the competition in the market by attracting more and more investments. Those investment could provide more jobs to people, reduce the price and fees for products and services and improve the quality of products and services. However, democracy standard vary from country to country in the region. For instance, in Arab world, they accept democracy, but they apply it in different model around the core concept of democracy. For Singapore and Japan, they have their own path toward democracy, and they deny western concept to be applied in their country.
In Conclusion, each region has different perspectives and values according to their culture, conditions and geographical aspects; such as Asian and Western regions. However, for the sake of humanity and human rights, most of them share the same views and value that as the priority. At the current growth trend of democracy, I could say that democracy could be considered as universal value. As mentioned earlier by various researchers and scholars, they share the same view that democracy implication could grow in all nations and provide benefits to them even though they have different culture and perspective. To make it more effective and efficient, own countries need a comprehensive plan and model to that democracy implication.