Im Osten die Zukunft? Malaysias 'Look East Policy' als Beispiel gesellschaftlicher Modernisierung

Abstract

In 1982 the Malaysian government launched the 'Look East Policy' as a new strategy for social and economic modernization. Just like Singapur, South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong a few years ago, Malaysia is now trying to emulate the Japanese 'miracle' in order to solve her present problems which are deeply rooted in Malaysian history and society. Considering that these problems are not exclusively economically defined, the ' Look East Policy' is designed as a 'multi-approach-strategy'. It includes a social aspect, aiming at a modernization of the Malay character by promoting Japanese work ethics, loyalty and business behaviour, th°e attempted reduction of privileges of the Malay aristocracy and the limitation of Islamic revivalism. The economic aspect includes the development of manufactured-goods industries, heavy nucleus industries, the emulation of the 'Japanese Incorporated' - model and a closer financial cooperation with the Japanese government as well as Japanese companies.