Negative Impact of Democratization in East Asia - Paper Example

Globalization is the integration and interaction between individuals, businesses, or the governments of different countries around the world (Kaynak & Fatemi 5). Activities such as trade, education, research, sports and religious practices are some of the primary initiators of globalization. The integration and interaction of the different nations have caused countries to influence each other's social, economic, and political environment, thus leading to the rise of various contemporary issues. This paper highlights the positive and negative impact of democratization which is a modern contemporary issue in East Asia. It relates this to some of the forces of globalization such as economy, politics, culture, ecology, and ideology. A prediction of the possible future of East Asia in relation to democratization and globalization is also presented in the paper.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Order now

Democratization is the transition of a government from a dictatorial rule. Various factors have caused the process of democratization. Some of these factors are such as an increase in wealth among the citizens, education, lengthy periods of peace, the growth of the middle-class population, and influence from other countries. According to (Diamond et al. 36), East Asia is known for having some of the world's most successful empires that were under authoritarian governments. These empires were highly civilized, and thus the social, economic, and political welfare of the citizens were appropriately governed. The empires, however, faced various political, social and economic challenges that led them to split resulting in the formation of weaker and smaller empires. The democratization of East Asian territories began after the Second World War. This process was initiated in Japan and is credited to the influence from some of the United States citizens who settled in Japan after the war ended.

Democratization has caused various impacts to the political rule in some of the territories in East Asia. The results brought about both positive and negative effects to the political environment in the region. Some of the positive impacts are such as the prevention of a monopolistic rule. Democratization ensures that the country is not tied to a monopoly control since it allows the various political parties to vie for different political seats through elections after a specified time. It has also given the citizens of the nations the power to determine the kind of leader they would like to lead them. South Korean citizens, for example, exercise this power through their engagement in elections after every five years.

Democratization has promoted equality among the citizens. It has given the citizens of the different nations in East Asia the chance to exercise their rights in directly voting for some of their leaders or run for an elective post as long as they have met the required qualifications. In China, for example, the citizens are given the right to elect local their local leaders such as the mayors, governors, and the various heads of districts, counties, and townships. In Taiwan, the citizens have the power to directly elect their heads of state who are the president and the vice president (Lindberg and Syerrisson 253). Democratization has also enabled the people living in East Asia to be politically educated. This is because democracy acts as a training ground for citizens of the nations that are directly involved in the state's political affairs since it is their duty to elect candidates who would effectively govern them.

The process of democratization has also led the citizens in East Asia to experience various negative implications. Some of the disadvantages of democratization are such as it lengthens the decision-making process. Unlike in an authoritative rule like monarchy governance where the ruler makes decisions that are implemented quickly. Democracy promotes lengthy bureaucracy that delays decision-making process and the implementation of the chosen decisions. It may also lead to the election of wrong public servants into office. According to Lindberg and Syerrisson (267), democracy promotes power to the people, and at times the public may choose to elect an individual who is not capable of appropriately running the elective post given to them. The wrong choice of leaders is usually caused by the high level of political illiteracy among the voters.

The economic environment in East Asia has been significantly impacted by the democratization of East Asian countries. The advantageous factors caused by democratization are such as the promotion of foreign investment. The democratization of the different nations in East Asia has attracted various investors into the country. This is because the investors are confident that they will receive high returns on their investment since the government will follow the foreign trade laws and regulations set in the nation's constitution. Democratization promotes market stability thus supporting the growth and initiation of new businesses (Diamond et al. 41). This is because democracy discourages political instigate conflicts that may lead to war thus ensuring that the market remains stable. Democratization also prevents the monopolization of the market control by few individuals. It allows the public to elect leaders who present manifestos that promote fair national and international trade rules and regulations thus securing their businesses. East Asian countries such as China and Japan have highly benefited from foreign and domestic investment promoted by democracy.

Democratization in the various nations of East Asia has also caused the countries to face some disadvantageous factors such as the misuse of public funds and time. It has forced governments to spend a lot of money and time trying to educate their citizens of the importance of democracy. The government also spends a lot of money to run the electoral processes and training the nation's electoral officials. The corruption levels of countries in East Asia have risen due to the democratization of the nations. Most of the elected leaders usually use the terms in office to financially benefit themselves and their relations. Many of the leaders embezzle the funds given to them and take bribes from various individuals who work against the law. Ma Ying-jeou who was a former Republic of China president succeeded by Tsai Ing-wen faces corruption allegations such as money laundering. Chen Shui-bian who was a former vice president of the Republic of China and Wu Shu-Jen his wife were convicted to 11 years in prison on 11th November in the year 2010 because of the Longtan land procurement scam (You 34).

Democratization would significantly influence East Asia nation's future. Some of the expected changes that are expected in the future are such as a full adaptation of the democratic system of governance by all of the East Asian countries. According to Diamond et al. (57), the influence from other nations across the world would lead countries such as China and Japan that exercise partial democracy to be fully democratic. East Asian countries rules and regulations governing citizens would be similar to that from other nations in areas such as America and Europe. Voters would choose leaders who would see the implementation of policies that are similar to those of other countries since they are perceived to promote equality.

There would also be an increase in international trade relations between countries in East Asia and the rest of the world. Companies in regions like America and Europe are expected to set up more of their firms in East Asian countries. Businesses in nations such as Japan and China are also expected to set up their businesses in various regions around the world. This action would lead to an increase in the exchange of information that would result in promotion of innovation and improvement of technology. Citizens would be more knowledgeable on political matters, and thus they would elect leaders who are more competent thus preventing the increase in corruption. The government would have set effective policies that would enable them easily identify acts of corrupt practices and appropriately punish the offenders.

In conclusion, the global influence on East Asia countries to democratize has significantly impacted the nations' economic, political, and cultural forces. The countries that adopted democratization have faced both negative and positive implications. The continued global interaction and interrelationship between East Asia and the rest of the world will lead to the rise of other contemporary issues that would affect the ways of life of the people in East Asia. It is thus the duty of the nations in East Asia to set rules and policies that would promote policies that will foster positive implications, and protect them from adverse impacts in relation to the contemporary issues they will face.

Work Cited

Diamond, Larry, Marc F. Plattner, and Yun-han Chu. Democracy in East Asia: a new century. JHU Press, 2013.Lindberg, Staffan, and Arni Sverrisson,. Social movements in development: the challenge of globalization and democratization. Springer, 2016.Kaynak, Erdener, and Khosrow Fatemi. Globalization and East Asia: opportunities and challenges. Routledge, 2014.You, Jong-sung. Democracy, inequality and corruption. Cambridge University Press, 2015.