The Fast Economic Development Owing to Increased Investment from Industries - Essay Example

Introduction The recent development demonstrated on the part of Asian Pacific economies happen to be spectacular. The rapid urbanisation and industrialisation of major cities in the region has also had some negative consequences for the society and economy both. The fast economic development owing to increased investment from industries and corporations has led the governments to suppress any civil society organisation or non-governmental bodies criticising and challenging the state policies. These governments continue to perceive these civil society organisations as threats rather than a link to enhanced democratisation in the country. This has had detrimental impact on the autonomy of these organisations to express their views and denied them any influence over the state decisions. This paper examines and elaborates the extent to which the development of these economies has led to the diminution of civil society. It also explores the examples from individual countries such as Japan and Singapore because of their particularly weak civil societies. Development In Asian Pacific Economies: Cost To Civil Society The Asia Pacific region has been at the heart of revolutionary industrial development that has taken place in the world through the last few decades. Countries like Japan, China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan, Philippines, Thailand and Singapore etc have quickly climbed up the ladders of development leading to rapid urbanisation of mega urban cities such as Tokyo, Osaka, Seoul, Shanghai, Beijing Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Manila and Bangkok etc. Urbanisation of these mega cities led to the industrialisation and development of major Asia Pacific economies as global investors and corporations began to set up industries and bring bulks of foreign reserves. Consequently, the governments' attention shifted towards further acceleration of the process of development through the provision of various incentives, support and infrastructure to industries and corporations in the form of enhanced transportation and communication facilities. Hence these countries have continued to develop backed by their governments' keen focus on enhancing state revenues through foreign investment and rapid industrialisation (Douglass, 2000). The region's progression towards development, however, has not been without heavy costs. These costs have been more social than political in the form of environmental hazards, pollution, mounting cost of living, rising urban population, health problems and city congestion (Douglass, 2000). Kim (1994) propound that air pollution in Seoul due to increased industrial and transportation development is dangerous for the health of the habitats of the city. Hence the cities are becoming unsafe for its citizens every day in the quest for development because of industrial pollution and environmental threats. Douglass (2000, 2328) also says that, "In Pacific Asia, with the possible exception of Singapore, the record is far from the ideal image. Rivers, land and air are polluted far beyond minimum standards set by governments for health and safety". Also an increased pressure on population from labours and immigrants is further leading to diminution of living space available to the citizens. The fact that is keeping governments to passively watch industries ruining the social and natural wealth is that these very industries happen to back up the economic development recently demonstrated by the region. Civil societies exist as critics of state's actions and strategies that prove detrimental to the certain aspects at which the government seems to be less attentive. These societies educate people and foster social movement towards the negative consequences of state policies. In this way these organisations play a crucial role in directing state attention towards the aspects that have negative social and economic bearing upon the society. To better understand the concept of civil societies, it should be noted that, "civil society is a broader concept encompassing all the organisations and associations that exist outside the state (including political parties) and the market" (Carothers, 1999, 19). By remaining independent from the state, these organisations mobilise people and intervene directly or indirectly into state policies while strengthening the true sense of democratisation. In the nations where civil societies are encouraged to play an active role, these organisations give voice to issues prevailing in the society such as environmental concerns, women's and human rights etc, strive to transform the negative social norms and influence the state policy-making. The detriments that have occurred to the developed cities of Asia Pacific region signify the governance of state over the policy-making issues with less autonomy given to the civil society organisations to effectively voice these social issues. On the other hand, civil societies act as intensifiers of democracy by guiding the government to fulfil the needs of society in a better manner. Carothers (1999, 21) also says that, "an active, diverse civil society often does play a valuable role in helping advance democracy". The recent economic development of Asia Pacific has been greatly due to revenues generated through growing industries and corporations; therefore governments appear to be more directed towards the achievement of economic aims through rapid industrialisation. They seek to retain most control with state and endeavour to constrain possible interventions on the part of civil societies, as significantly evident in the case of Japan where consistent resistance from the state to share power in policy making has significantly weakened the country's civil society (Gilson and Phillida, 2003). Because more power to civil society organisations means more information available to people on state policies, the governments Asia Pacific region seek to constrain the autonomy of these organisations. Japan happens to be the greatest economic power in the Asia Pacific region and very profoundly espouses the notion of modern democracy. However, the position of civil society organisations with respect to policy and strategy development reflects an opposite scenario. Carothers (1999, 23) expounds that, "Japan has been a stable democracy for half a century but continues to have a relatively weak civil society". The government prefers to keep its control on the policy issues and civil society organisations have no influence over the state actions. Although the government encourages the establishment of CSOs in the country but hesitates to give it enough power to shape the direction of state policies and further strengthen the notion of democratisation in Japan. The industrial policies of development era still have a profound impact on strategy formulation by the government today. Pekkanen (2004, 382) concludes that, "bureaucrats remain relatively quite powerful in Japanese policymaking, professional civil society remains weak, and industrial policy activism has by no means disappeared". It is definitely not to say that the era of high development in Japan led to the decline of civil society in the country, in fact economic development significantly led to a rapid increase in the number of civil society organisations in Japan. However, an increasing number of these organisations do not ensure a change in the country's democratic structure unless they are given autonomy to voice their concerns over issues and thus a power to influence state decision-making. Pekkanen (2004, 365) says that, "Japanese civil society groups have grown in strength and number, but Japan's professionalised civil society sector lags in influence compared to, say, that in the United States". There are evident facts that endorse that civil societies actively played their roles with regard to social movement even in those days. For example, agitation and demonstrations on the part of Japanese students in 1960s concerning US-Japan security relations greatly shook the country's policy makers. Even after the economic boom era, Japanese CSOs have continued to grow rapidly, but the have been weakened in terms of their influence over policy-making (Pekkanen, 2004). Lizee (2000) says that the state-centred approach of East Asian economies of the development era led to the economic and developmental expansion of these economies, has remained extant even today and is severely detrimental to the power of civil society. In those days governments possessed the dominating policy-making power that accelerated the rapid industrialisation of the region. These governments still regard civil society as threat to state power rather than as guides to democratic policy-making. In Singapore, for example, the government has often stated its ambitions to liberalise the political and social activities of civil societies and development of Town Councils and Community Development Councils also endorses this commitment. However, the government has also exhibited reluctance in allowing civil societies to act as critics of its long-term objectives. Countries like Singapore and Malaysia have even endeavoured to constrain civil societies by promoting state-controlled print and electronic media. This attempt further delimits the ability of these organisations to deliver right and valuable information to people to mobilise social activities. These regimes obstruct the development of any organisation that could act as a critic of government policies and win public support. As Rodam (2003, 520) claims that, "the central objective of all the adjustments to the regime is to preserve the effectiveness of deterrents to civil society". Unless these states begin to realise NGOs and other independent organisations as promoters of democracy and guides to properly shape the governmental policies on social and economic improvement rather than threats, these civil society organisations would not be able to play their due role. Conclusion This paper discusses the impact of economic development of the Asia Pacific countries on their civil society organisations. It also explores the extent to which these countries constrain the activities and influence of these organisations. Governments are mainly focused on the economic gains achieved from rapid development and industrialisation regardless of the social and environmental costs borne by its citizens. The investments that the industries and corporations bring to the country strengthen its economic position. Therefore civil society organisations are kept constrained on the part of the government so as to avoid any social movement or protest from citizens. In Japan, Civil society organisations are not given enough power to influence the state policy-making or play its role in the transformation of social norms in the Japanese society. In Singapore, the government even attempts to restrain the provision of information from civil society through a promotion of state-controlled print as well as electronic media. Such acts on the part of the states to protect their power and avoid any criticism leads to further deterioration of civil society. Although the Asia Pacific region has developed rapidly with respect to economic conditions, yet these economies are far behind in providing the needed autonomy to the civil society so as to enhance the process of democratisation. References Carothers, T. (1999), "Think Again Civil Society. Foreign Policy", 117, Winter, pp. 18-24 Douglass, M. (2000), "Mega-urban Regions and World City Formation: Globalisation, the Economic Crisis and Urban Policy Issues in Pacific Asia", Urban Studies, 37(12), pp. 2315- 2335 Gilson, J. and Phillida, P. (2003),"Japan's Pursuit Of Human Security: Humanitarian Agenda Or Political Pragmatism", Japan Forum, 15(2), pp. 193-207 Kim, I.K. (1994), "The Environmental Problems in Urban Communities and the Protection of the Environment in Korea", Korea Journal of Population and Development, 23(1), pp. 63-76 Lizee, P.P. (2000), "Civil Society and Regional Security: Tensions And Potentials In Post-Crisis Southeast Asia", Contemporary Southeast Asia, 22(3), December, pp. 550-569 Pekkanen, R. (2004), "After the Developmental State: Civil Society in Japan", Journal of East Asian Studies, 4, pp. 363-388 Rodan, G. (2003), "Embracing Electronic Media But Suppressing Civil Society: Authoritarian Consolidation In Singapore", The Pacific Review, 16(4), pp. 503-524 Read More