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Because the proponents of the concept came from different cultural backgrounds, no single definition of the term exists, but typically "Asian values" encompasses some flavor of Confucianism , in particular loyalty towards the family, corporation and nation, the forgoing of personal Freedom for the sake of society's stability and prosperity, the pursuit for academic and technological excellence, and work ethic and Thrift . Proponents of "Asian values", who tend to support Asian-style Authoritarian governments, claim they are more appropriate for the region than the Democratic values and institutions of The West . A frequent criticism is that the idea of "Asian values" is most promoted by the elites who benefit from authoritarian rule, rather than the wider populace of their nation. The concept of "Asian values" was a popular idea in Malaysia , Singapore , Indonesia , and India , and also in some political circles in Japan . In Malaysia and Singapore, the concept of Asian values was embraced partly because it reconciled Islam , the religion of the Malay s, with the Confucianism of the Ethnic Chinese , and Hinduism , thereby helping to create a sense of common values between different ethnic and religious groups in those countries, as well as forming an ideology that could challenge the West. In Japan, it was popular among some nationalist circles because it challenged the West and also offered the possibility of Japanese leadership in a new Asia. Mahathir Bin Mohamad and Lee Kuan Yew , the prime ministers of Malaysia and Singapore, respectively, at that time, were particularly vocal advocates of Asian values. Fareed Zakaria has written extensively on Asian values; meanwhile, Amartya Sen has been one of the concept's strongest critics. Some critics of the term argue that no universal "Asian" value system exists, because the cultural diversity of Asia is too great for there to be a single set of common values across the region. The concept of "Asian values" began to lose currency after the Asian Financial Crisis weakened the economies of many Asian countries, leading to the collapse of the Suharto regime in Indonesia . Two outspoken critics of Asian values have been the former President of the Republic Of China (Taiwan) , Lee Teng-hui , and former President of the Republic Of Korea (South Korea), Kim Dae Jung . SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS |