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Synopsis :

In this forum, three academics from the University of Singapore discuss whether there is a conflict between modernisation and Asian values. They are Professor Syed Hussein Alatas, Head of the Malay Studies Department, Dr. Ho Wing Meng, Acting Head of the Department of Philosophy and Dr. Peter Chen, Acting  Head of the Department of  Sociology. They say that modernisation was imported into Asia from the West during the last two or three decades. It introduced into Asian thinking, concepts like rationality, economic development, equalising social and economic opportunities and changing and reforming traditional values. Modernisation also means the introduction of modern science and technology and requires a change in attitudes. A modernised system of education can train people to acquire new skills for the development of industries. The speakers then discuss how we can modernise and at the same time safeguard ourselves against inculcating values which are not useful to us. Using new technology does not mean that we are changing our value systems. There is a need to sift the good from the bad and retain positive values like punctuality, efficiency and the ability to persevere while doing monotonous work. Traditional Asian societies are stratified into social and economic classes.This can hamper development. Asia faces problems like the elimination of poverty and ignorance. A change in the family system from the extended to the nuclear family might pose challenges in caring for the aged. Traditionally in Asia, having a large family is a virtue as children are viewed as an insurance for old age. Farmers need people to cultivate the land and therefore want to have more sons for higher productivity. Because of these attitudes to procreation, these people might resist family planning. However, a mere increase in population in the Third World is not an impediment to modernisation. Some traditional attitudes might have to be given up in order to modernise. It is neccessary for Third World countries to modernise rapidly, but in the process these countries must try to preserve valuable traditions as much as they can. In the final analysis, the speakers feel that there is no conflict between Asian values and modernisation as they have various commonalities.