Reading the 'software' of Asian society

The EU needs a new perspective on Asia, and a broader understanding of the continent's cultural issues, values and philosophies, argues Georg Wiessala. IN HIS thought-provoking monograph Can Asians Think? Singaporean UN Representative Kishore Mahbubani appeared to condone human rights abuses in Asia: "...If the West wants to bury forever Mao's totalitarian arrangements, it should support Deng's reforms to the hilt, even if he has to occasionally crack down to retain political control."