Why Low Crime Rate in East Asia? Confucianism: Beyond Reintegrative Shaming.

Braithwaite draws on the concept of reintegrative shaming while explaining low crime rate in Japan. While the reintegrative shaming theory plausibly explains the low crime rates, Braithwaite does not go further to delve into the origin of reintergrative shaming. Nor does he attempt to investigate relationship between reintegrative shaming and other crucial dimensions that are critically related to crime causation family, education, and economy. This paper maintains that Confucianism serves as the origin of reintegrative shaming as well as low crime rates in East Asia, including Japan. It also shows how Confucianism relates to communitarianism, interdependence, and social dynamics that affect crime rates. Finally, it suggests a strong moral education, both formal and informal, as a potential way to decrease high crime rates in the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]