[color=#0000FF]The real reason that Asian societies have fallen behind European societies in the past five hundred years is a simple one: Asians have held Asia back.[/color]


But I do not want to end on a pessimistic note. There is hope for change. Globalization will generate new elites in Asia. So too will the increasing velocity of change. Huge numbers of Asians are being educated, at home and abroad. New global flows of information are opening the eyes of Asians. The "veil of ignorance" is being lifted. A new process of learning has begun. All these forces will generate new opportunities for Asian societies. But the first lesson that Asian societies must learn is how to develop, implement and maintain the right software: Meritocracy, peace and honesty.


http://www.asiaweek.com/asiaweek/magazine/99/1231/century.main.html