Tradition and modernity: a reflection on the dynamics of international development

Abstract

The proposed topic for discussion allows us to delve into the historical, philosophical, and psychosocial dimensions of development, a problematic issue increasingly monopolized by economists and administrators in search of a magic recipe or model to reiterate the success of Japan's postwar reconstruction and, consequently, the spectacular advancement of the economies of the Far East. The Japanese "miracle" is generally attributed to certain cultural traits of Japanese society, the product and legacy of a millennia-long history of isolation from the rest of the world. It follows, therefore, that the national educational system and its emphasis on discipline and obedience, based on a profound respect for established authorities, may have fostered the formation of a group ethos that reinforced national identity and solidarity.