Ostasien und der Westen : Globalisierung oder Regionalisierung?

Conflicts between the industrialized countries ("the West") and East and Southeast Asia on questions like democratization, human rights and value concepts increased in the last decade. This is due to the processes of globalization, especially after the end of the East-West conflict. A relatively successful economic development process in East Asia is accompanied by growing pride and self-consciousness of the East Asian countries not only in economic questions, but in political and cultural questions as well. This raises the question whether East Asia will be integrated into the process of worldwide globalization or rather looks for stronger regionalization. This article discusses common as well as different perceptions of globalization, the question if there exists the phenomenon of an "Asiatization" and common "Asian values". It analyzes the discussion on different human rights concepts, the Western reaction on East Asian development and self-consciousness and the background of the discussion on Asiatization and Asian values in East Asia. Finally, it tries to mark the trends towards regionalization and globalization and to point to possible ways of a better understanding between the East and the West. (Asien/DÜI)