AHC/WI/PC: Less Corrupt East and Southeast Asia

No WWII.A lot of the corruption has to do with premature independence and the military trying to gain control of the state.According to what's taught in my studies on SEA,a major reason behind the military trying to gain control was that many armies in SEA were originally military formations set up and trained by the Japanese(e.g. the Burma National Army).The whole Bushido nonsense and the ideal of military control over the state was encouraged by the Japanese instructors and it rubbed off.Another thing you might have guessed would be due to the fact that independence was premature--democratic and sound governing institutions wasn't that well established by the time independence was gained.
 
That point about the military establishment in many of these countries is interesting, but I don't think it's valid. Thailand is a good example of a country that fell into coup cycles without that experience.

IMHO, at least part of the corruption (especially I'm China) is due to cultural sensibilities. What would be deemed corruption in the West is often considered proper social decorum in China.

With regards to SE Asia, the big problem is the massive wealth inequality and the concentration of wealth in a few hands, which is an almost-inevitable result of corporatism. Japan managed to dodge that, as did Singapore, but I'm not 100% sure how. I suspect Singapore's size makes it much easier to police, but Japan is an anomaly. The key probably lies somewhere in the American occupation.
 
That point about the military establishment in many of these countries is interesting, but I don't think it's valid. Thailand is a good example of a country that fell into coup cycles without that experience.

IMHO, at least part of the corruption (especially I'm China) is due to cultural sensibilities. What would be deemed corruption in the West is often considered proper social decorum in China.

With regards to SE Asia, the big problem is the massive wealth inequality and the concentration of wealth in a few hands, which is an almost-inevitable result of corporatism. Japan managed to dodge that, as did Singapore, but I'm not 100% sure how. I suspect Singapore's size makes it much easier to police, but Japan is an anomaly. The key probably lies somewhere in the American occupation.

Is there a way to fix this?
 
That point about the military establishment in many of these countries is interesting, but I don't think it's valid. Thailand is a good example of a country that fell into coup cycles without that experience.

IMHO, at least part of the corruption (especially I'm China) is due to cultural sensibilities. What would be deemed corruption in the West is often considered proper social decorum in China.

With regards to SE Asia, the big problem is the massive wealth inequality and the concentration of wealth in a few hands, which is an almost-inevitable result of corporatism. Japan managed to dodge that, as did Singapore, but I'm not 100% sure how. I suspect Singapore's size makes it much easier to police, but Japan is an anomaly. The key probably lies somewhere in the American occupation.
Japan was susceptible to corporatism as well,there were the Zaibatsus.
 

PhilippeO

Banned
The key probably lies somewhere in the American occupation.

this is doubtful. Japan already more capable in building more effective government in pre WW era.

I think the answer is Nationalism: Japan, Taiwan and Korea does have corruption but far lower than SE Asia countries. East Asia have chance of state building earlier, and have stronger nationalism that limit people willingness to enrich their family at state expense. China corruption is only arise because extremely large disrepancy of wealth since Deng opening, once wealth spread more to poorer people, its corruption will decline.

SE Asia have enormous problem they did not have longer history as nation. Indonesia, Philiphines, Malaysia and Burma is state created by colonial border. Vietnam has longer history of nationhood, they probably like China, only have large corruption because very recent entrance of Capitalism that still not completely diffuse wealth to people. Thailand also have colonial border, South, North and Northeast were orginally semi-independent vassal state.
 
The removal of corruption and nepotism is something that takes time. The first key to that is the establishment of a functioning democracy and civil society.
 
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