Research Achievements

GIARI & Social and Cultural Field

Research:Publications:Working Papers FY2008(english-27,japanese-4)

Integration or Estrangement? The Influence of Globalization on the Work Values of Students at Elite Japanese, Chinese, and Korean Universities
/ Yasuyuki Kishi, Sunao Mizuno, Dan Pantumsinchai, Shigeto Sonoda

2008.05.30

working papers

Excellent papers on Asian regional integration, which are prepared mainly by young researchers such as GIARI members, co-researchers, research fellows, and research assistants, will be published as working papers. Contributed papers, written in English or in Japanese, will be reviewed and examined by the editorial committee before publication. GIARI donates published papers to the libraries of Waseda and other related universities, research organizations, etc.

GIARI Working Paper Vol. 2008-E-1

GIARI Working Paper Vol. 2008-E-1
Integration or Estrangement ?
The Influence of Globalization on the Work Values of Students
at Elite Japanese, Chinese, and Korean Universities

Yasuyuki Kishi*, Sunao Mizuno**, Dan Pantumsinchai***, Shigeto Sonoda****
Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies, Waseda University

May. 30, 2008

PDF File



* Research Associate, Waseda Institute for Asia-Pacific Studies, Waseda University
** MA Student, Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies, Waseda University
*** MA Student, Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies, Waseda University
**** Professor, Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies, Waseda University

Abstract

East Asia has been rapidly moving toward modernization, driven by the force of globalization. The result of that process is that country values are converging from traditional ones to modern ones. Countries have been congregating towards various ideologies, "meritocracy" in particular, as they continue to modernize.

This study aims to shed light on how globalization influences the work values of undergraduate students in Japan, China, and Korea. These three countries share a Confucian background which produces many interesting findings. Samples collected from Waseda, Fudan, and Korea Universities are examined using statistical analysis methods, and conclusions are drawn.

While work values are converging, they are not completely integrated. Each country still possesses its own unique set of characteristics that separate it from the other nations. However, Japanese and Korean students were found to possess similar work values when compared to Chinese students.

Interestingly, Chinese students have two conflicting ideologies: one of "egalitarian socialism" that places emphasis on the equality between people, and another of "modern meritocracy" that puts weight on individual development and reward.

How Chinese students will continue to reconcile this delicate balance as time goes by is a fascinating topic for future research.

Keywords: East Asia, globalization, modernization, work values, meritocracy, egalitarianism

Index

  • Abstract
  • 1. Introduction
  • 2. Analytical Framework
  • 3. Survey Outline
  • 4. Differences between Japanese-Chinese-Korean Students’ Work Values
  • 5. Results
  • 6. Conclusion
  • References
  • [Appendix]


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