First, I would like to propose the endogenous theory, which is not yet complete, as a working hypothesis. This concept appeard almost simultaneously in the East and West around the middle of the 1970s. I would like to apply this concept to the study of China, of Asis, and of international relations.
If we consider the perspective of the endogenous development, it appears that China only changes slowly due to its historical tradition. At the same time, however, we cannot ignore the fact that China is gradually undergoing endogenous change due to stimulation from foreign countries. For example, electoral systems are gradually being introduced into China's traditional guided democracy. A more objective legal system is being mixed into China's political organizations which have been based on the control of individual leaders.
In Japan the historical development of political culture is the same. As Tooru Sagara wrote, to the Japanese, the ultimate form of the universe is not a superhuman personality, but rather the spontaneous act of creation itself. That which comes into existence is both absolute and relative. The “now” that comes into existence can be affirmed as the “eternal now”. So I recognize that the Japanese Constitution of post war period has represented an “eternal now” which could be changed but not easily be changed.
So each nation or culture might have its own particular and regional tradition but, at the same time, might have developed with stimulation from outside. This development can be relatively universal and global. An important thing, however, is to recognize the fact that the development from inside is much more fundamental.
Historically, Western nations have moved forward with citizen's uprisings and economic revolutions based on endogenous factors that had been fostered within their own societies. Today, even if the West is gaining a new awareness of Asia and in corporating Asian influences, this will definitely not take the form of an easternization of the West. Rather this will develop as an endogenous modern reform within Western societies, in a similar pattern to the East. It will only be possible for the East and West to continue to stimulate one another in a productive manner if they each independently recreate and redevelop their own values. The mainstream of international relations of the 21st century will be the continuous creation of globalism based upon regionalism.
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