Corruption and Asian Values: A Cultural Approach to Understand Corruption within Asian Society

Abstract

As global threat shifts from traditional security issues to non-traditional security issues, corruption is placed among the top threats to humankind since it poses danger to the development and prosperity of one state. Corruption is a social pandemic occurring across the globe, from East to West, North to South. However, Asia is a part of the world where corruption grows prolific. For this reason, this paper argues that Asian values is responsible for shaping a corrupt society within Asian social structure. Asian values create a communitarian society that respect order, authority, family and relationship. Perhaps these values are misinterpreted and undermined by community for their personal benefits. There are two dimensions that Asian values might contribute to the making of corrupt society, political and social. In politics, political system and its historical legacy appear to be substantive in shaping corrupt society. Meanwhile in social architecture, Asian values itself habituate Asian community to practice corruption in their daily activities. This research aims to verify that Asian values work as a primary element in shaping corruptive behaviour within Asian society. This research operates qualitative methods with explanatory analysis mode.