In the mid- to late-1990s — as Asia’s new tiger economies boomed — several South East Asian leaders promoted a concept called “Asian values” in explaining an unprecedented economic growth and new prosperity.
Proclaiming that “close family ties” and a “more hands-on, authoritarian leadership” was the way to riches, the concept, however, soon unravelled with the economic crisis of 1997.
Adam Connors looks at how the term “Asian values” was used — and abused.
And, he seeks parallels with the federal government’s more recent use of the term “Australian values”.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
