The East-West Dichotomy in the Globalizing Perspective

Abstract

The conceptual opposition of East and West requires further significant interdisciplinary development. While ontologically Confucianism is by no means antagonistic to the values of Western liberal democracy, a convergent alternative between globalist neoliberalism and the Confucian tradition democracy appealing to social harmony and a strong state may be found. Due to strengthening the global role of China and Confucian tradition democracies, especially in the economic, financial, and infrastructural spheres, Confucian approaches and East Asian models of successful modernization have been increasingly influencing the socio-economic policy of some Central and Eastern European states, inducing therein the effective interaction of Confucian, European, and universal values.

Keywords

• east-west dichotomy
• confucian values
• confucian tradition democracy
• liberalism
• strong state
• modernization
• harmony.