From the political and legal perspective, Japan has been a country of unique political stability -- one party under a parliamentary system ruled for thirty-eight years and a rapid social change was accommodated without major political disruptions. This has been possible because of the 'culture of compromise and consensus' that allowed the second largest world economic power and a modern industrial nation to manage its functions with a significantly lower number of judges and lawyers and fewer civil administrative proceedings than, for example, German and the United States. It is, indeed, remarkable how clever the Japanese are not wasting scarce resources on lawyers and lawsuits, and still providing for an adequate measure of intra-societal justice and ensuring maximum security for the citizens. Indeed, many nations can take direction from Japan in terms of mobilizing the creative energies of people to desired goals of national development and social peace.

Model for other nations

The experience of Japan -- its strategy of economic growth, political process, human resource development management techniques and state-society relations --inspired many nations of East and Southeast Asia including Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, who are now joining the ranks of developed countries. These countries, while retaining the western style of representative government, opted for effective governance in terms of creating and sustaining order and discipline in their societies. They realised like Japan the need for democratisation, but at the same time keeping the plethora of conflicts pursued by ambitious and aggressive people in politics within a limit, so that national objectives cannot be overlooked. Japanese politics has been an ordered world for the most part, where procedures and norms govern the allocation of resources to encourage and ensure predictability and stability. Equal to competitiveness in importance is a desire for order and routine that is operative in Japanese politics and Japanese social life in general.

Order and discipline: Key to success

Several features of economic life indicate a preference for ordered institutionalised relationships. Many men are employed for life in large firms, and careers in business firms and bureaucracy followed a more or less predictable course of levels of seniority, and assignment of authority, responsibility, career development and compensation. Merit has always been recognised, and is apparently growing in importance in making job assignments, and determining compensation. The largest political party of Japan- Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) contained factions, sub-factions, policy-groups at different levels to accomplish instrumental goals as well as stabilise disorderly environment. Political stability under pro-business government made it easier for business to plan ahead and make long- term investment. Political parties converged on vital national development issues, macroeconomic stability, and business to grow. The LDP-Business alliance has been seen in this respect as a keystone of post-war Japanese economic success and political stability.

Directions for Bangladesh

Japan's road to success has a clear direction for Bangladesh despite many differences in history, society and stage of economic development between the two countries. Like Japan, Bangladesh needs to evolve a consensus of purpose for clearly defined objective of national development under a democratic order. This involves creating an appropriate framework to curb violence, indiscipline and corruption in the society. Japanese experience suggests that to evolve such a framework, a comprehensive approach is needed that should include not only the legal order, but also reorientation of political culture and social behavior through education, vigorous socialization and strengthening bonds of solidarity of state institutions with society. Since Bangladesh has opted for a democratic system of governance, the value-framework of its political leadership is a crucial factor in creating a stable political and social order. There is an urgent need to give due recognition to merit, hard work and collective orientation -- in order to create a disciplined social order.

Reorientation of political culture

Bangladesh is fortunate like Japan to enjoy a unique homogeneity as a nation in terms of race, language and religion, but unlike Japan, the political elites in Bangladesh espouse seemingly irreconcilable beliefs, symbols and values -- creating stress and indiscipline in the political and social system. There is, therefore, a need for Bangladesh to evolve norms and new political values, in order to establish consensus and stability in the political system.

After twelve years of democratic rule, Bangladesh still remains a fragile 'soft-state'-- vulnerable to severe internal weaknesses arising mainly from corruption, conflicts and crisis of governance. There is an urgent need to come out of this 'soft-state' syndrome of Bangladesh through a positive image of the government's performance and to realise the enormous development possibilities of Bangladesh.

Foreign policy direction

Bangladesh's external engagement with immediate and extended neighbors must be constructive, purposeful and based on strength. The government of Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, with the initiative of Foreign Minister M. Morshed Khan, launched Bangladesh's " Look East Policy" -- a praiseworthy policy step indeed. But Bangladesh's Look East policy has to be more comprehensive and deep in territorial and substantive terms. In terms of territorial expanse, besides the ten countries in ASEAN, she needs to be engaged with North East Asia, with Japan, with China and the Koreas. Down south, there is a need to have engagement with Australia. Therefore, when we talk of Bangladesh's Look East engagement we are including this whole region of Southeast and East Asia -- Japan being the focal point. It is gratifying in this context that Bangladesh has been continuing its beneficial and exemplary relations with Japan for the past thirty-two years. These relationships need to be deepened further for mutual benefits and effective communications between the peoples of the two countries.

The second aspect of Look East policy relates to much deeper and broader engagement. This year our Prime Minister traveled to China, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. She suggested that we should negotiate a framework agreement for a Free Trade Area between ASEAN and Bangladesh. As South Korea, Japan and China are having their own free trade agreements with ASEAN, perhaps, we are on the threshold of a much larger conglomeration of nations, perhaps, at the threshold of an Asian free trade area. Because if those countries have free trade with ASEAN, then, we are also engaging each other in a more extensive context. Similarly, the Ganges-Mekong Group, the BIMSTC, the Indian Ocean Rim countries all emphasises this deeper engagement of Bangladesh with the rest of Asia.

If we look at the geography of the Asian continent, Bangladesh's strategic location is clearly marked -- it is a ' bridge between Southwest and Southeast Asia'. Not merely must we be geographically in the centre of things, but in our engagement also, we must be at the centre of things in terms development, security and cooperation. Therefore, in recent years, Bangladesh has to put emphasis on 'rediscovering Asia'. We have to create deep networks in East Asia, and raise a new consciousness of our Asian identity. People across countries are freely talking about the twenty-first century being an Asian century. We have to translate that into reality to be a part of it.

Conclusion: National determination

Bangladesh's engagement with the immediate and extended neighbours should be based on strength in terms of growth of her economy, progress in science and technology, achievements in human resource development, and strength of vital democratic institutions. Therefore, in all our interactions, the emphasis should be on development of human resources, on greater economic engagement in terms of investment as well as in terms of trade. The emphasis should be on technical assistance that Bangladesh could receive from these countries to improve its institutions of governance and development. Clearly, if Bangladesh wants to pursue the national and international goals that we have set for ourselves, we would like peace to prevail globally and particularly, in our region. Any threat to peace by state actors or non- state actors is a threat to the goal of prosperity for our people that we pursue. There must be a consensus within Bangladesh that prosperity within a peaceful order is a goal we should pursue with single-minded determination. That is the direction we can meaningfully take from Japan's road to success, and it is imperative for Bangladesh to be engaged with Japan.

Dr M Ataur Rahman is Professor of Political Science and Director, Japan Study Centre, University of Dhaka and President, Bangladesh Political Science Association