Leadership and Confucianism

Can a leader following the core elements of Confucianism be successful in a globalizing economy?

Introduction

Over the last three decades, China has achieved outstanding economic growth and social changes. Its constant growth lifted 400 million people out of poverty . Chinese society and economy have incommensurably changed and business has been recognized by the state and society with consequences such as heavy social cost and unethical practices.

In light of this fact, this work aims to demonstrate that a leadership that take it source in specific values of Confucianism, especially the key elements that are ren, yi, and li, would not only give back a moral sense in today's economy but also provide an efficient long-term solution which is one of the common characteristic that the most successful companies and markets are sharing. To do this, I will start with a brief introduction to Confucianism, while focusing on the core elements of Confucian morality, which are the subject of this work. Then I will give the example of three multinational companies’ leaders who have achieved an undeniable success while maintaining their values. Finally, I will try to define the main characteristics specific to Confucianism a leader should possess if he wants to achieve success.

1 History of Confucianism

Confucianism , Rújiā (儒家) "school of scholars" then Rúxué (儒学) "teaching of scholars" is one of the largest philosophical, moral, political and to a lesser extent religious school in China. It has grown for more than two millennia from the work attributed to the philosopher Kongfuzi, "Master K'ung" 孔夫子 (551-479 BC.), known in the West as the Latinized name of Confucius. After being confronted with competing schools of thought during the Warring States Period and violently fought during the reign of Qin Shi Huang, founder of the first empire, it was imposed by Emperor Han Wudi (-156 ~ -87) as state doctrine and remained until the founding of the Republic of China...