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"South Korea is a country where plastic surgery industry has been a roaring success. Beauty has become a dominant norm. Why? Some people try to explain this phenomenon in terms of the traditional Confucian culture of self-cultivation. However, this cannot be correct, as in Confucian culture a neat look cannot be equated with beauty. However, the rising dominance of lookism since the 1990s can be better explained through the interaction of pressures emanating from the labour market, of entertainment business, of the business strategies of medical industry and of economic policies of the government." (author's abstract)

This article first gives a brief description of the phenomena of the revival of traditional studies and culture (Guoxue Craze) in mainland China, then presents and critiques the controversies that surround them, including questions of what "national studies" are, whether the national studies craze is "artificial heat", and the emergence of "Confucian fundamentalism" in the national studies craze, etc. It finally offers some reflections on these phenomena, such as the danger of getting bogged down in parochial nationalism; the infeasibility of China relying on Confucian traditional culture to achieve modernisation; and the absurdity of attempts by Confucian fundamentalism to use "Confucianism to solve all of China's problems." (China Perspect/GIGA)

This article explores the rediscovery of "Confucianism" in mainland China in the field of education, understood in the broad sense of training dispensed to others and self-cultivation. It begins by examining the general context of the phenomenon and then analyzes how it is currently taking form and becoming institutionalized. On such a basis, it becomes possible to better understand one of its main features - its paradoxical anti-intellectualism. (China Perspect/GIGA)

Der Verfasser beginnt seine Untersuchung über die Familienstruktur in Korea mit einem Überblick über konfuzianische Ethik: das konfuzianische Menschenbild, die konfuzianische Familienethik, die Bedeutung der Genealogie der Familiennamen. Vor diesem Hintergrund wird auf empirischer Basis nach dem Einfluss der konfuzianischen Ethik auf die Familie in Korea sowie nach aktuellen Tendenzen des Wandels in der Familienstruktur gefragt. Hierbei geht es um (1) einen Wertwandel in Bezug auf die Erziehung der Kinder und die Partnerbeziehung, (2) objektive Tendenzen des Wandels in Bezug auf Familienformen und Ehescheidung sowie (3) Veränderungen in den familialen Beziehungen in Bezug auf Geschlechtsrollen, Arbeitsteilung, Machtverhältnisse, Generationenverhältnisse und innerfamiliäre Unterstützung. Die Untersuchung macht deutlich, dass sich in der koreanischen Mehrgenerationenfamilie verschiedenen Tendenzen des Wandels zum Trotz ein hoher Grad an Kohärenz erhalten hat. (ICE). Die Untersuchung enthält quantitative Daten. Die Untersuchung bezieht sich auf den Zeitraum 1998 bis 1999.

What might a viable political alternative to liberal democracy look like? In Against Political Equality, Tongdong Bai offers a possibility inspired by Confucian ideas. Bai argues that domestic governance influenced by Confucianism can embrace the liberal aspects of democracy along with the democratic ideas of equal opportunities and governmental accountability to the people. But Confucianism would give more political decision-making power to those with the moral, practical, and intellectual capabilities of caring for the people. While most democratic thinkers still focus on strengthening equality to cure the ills of democracy, the proposed hybrid regime-made up of Confucian-inspired meritocratic characteristics combined with democratic elements and a quasi-liberal system of laws and rights-recognizes that egalitarian qualities sometimes conflict with good governance and the protection of liberties, and defends liberal aspects by restricting democratic ones. Bai applies his views to the international realm by supporting a hierarchical order based on how humane each state is toward its own and other peoples, and on the principle of international interventions whereby humane responsibilities override sovereignty. Exploring the deficiencies posed by many liberal democracies, Against Political Equality presents a novel Confucian-engendered alternative for solving today's political problems

A long march from servility to freedom -- New China founded with anti-confucianism spirit -- Anti-confucian Mao Zedong and his successors -- The CCP as an anti-confucian organization -- Cycles of dissiden movements and campaigns -- Education and science and technology -- Economic development before economic reform -- Economic reform and confucianism -- From anti-Americanism toward Americanization