East Meets West

More about the book

The book presents a dialogue between an American democrat and three East Asian critics, exploring the tension between liberal democracy and "Asian values." It addresses the debate over whether liberal democracy is a universal ideal or a Western construct, with proponents of Asian values arguing against the imposition of Western ideals on Asian states. Daniel A. Bell seeks to find a middle ground, critiquing both the motivations of Asian leaders and the Western perspective on human rights and democracy.