Values and Traditions: the Link of Investments in Human Capital and the Cornerstone of New Platform for Global Growth
Values and Traditions: the Link of Investments in Human Capital and the Cornerstone of New Platform for Global Growth
Profound restructuring of the global economic system in the 21st century, especially the rise of developing economies represented by BRICS countries, underscores the role of human capital as the main driver and strategic resource for sustainable economic development. BRICS cooperation mechanism that has evolved fr om the original dialogue platform to current BRICS+ expansion model and institution building formed a prototype of the global management system having potential for transformation. However, BRICS countries have to elaborate a clearer consensus basis at the level of philosophical epistemology and paradigm of development in order to avoid criticism typical for loose multilateral consultation mechanisms.
In course of modernization, Western countries gradually developed a relatively unified system of political ideas and value-based consensus mechanism that include a certain form of democratic institutions, the human rights discourse, and forms of political organization. Unlike them,
BRICS countries demonstrate clear multiple political requirements and cultural heterogeneity due to the differences in their historical trajectories, civilizational traditions, and stages of development. In this context of multiple civilizations, the main theoretical and practical question for us is the following: is BRICS mechanism capable of building a system of value-based concepts that simultaneously respects the differences and features integrity? This article states that common value system of BRICS countries can be positioned within the theoretical framework of “multiple modernity”, i. e. the goal of each country's development is not the common logics of unlimited expansion of capital, but the achievement of localized modern transformation on the basis of maintenance of the right for autonomous development and continuity of civilization. This consensus framework that is based on the system of traditional cultural values uses investments in human capital as a link, which creates a new platform for global growth that differs fr om the Western model. As the underlying structure and spiritual gene of culture and society, values and traditions play an irreplaceable guiding and formative role in the practice of common humankind wellness and prosperity promotion. The spirit of cooperation, the concept of honesty, and inclusive thinking contained in
traditions can efficiently activate the internal potential of human capital, give a sustainable boost and innovative viability to the economic growth, thus promoting general education and advanced training, strengthening social cohesion and mechanisms of trust, as well as guiding the models of sustainable and well-balanced development. On this platform, BRICS countries may seek to form the following value-based consensus: firstly, to respect the right for multiple choice of development paths; secondly, highlight achievement of modernization on the basis of maintenance of civilization continuity; thirdly, support investments in human capital as the double carrier of economic growth and cultural continuity; fourthly, promote the establishment of a mechanism for global dialogue of civilizations on the basis of equality and mutual learning.
I. Traditional values of BRICS countries and the new model for global development
Traditional values of non-Western civilizations not only constitute precious cultural heritage of each country, but they also represent an important spiritual force that forms a new paradigm of globalization in
the future and ensures cultural support and philosophical wisdom for the establishment of a more fair and inclusive global management system.
As notes the scientific director of the Institute of China and Contemporary Asia of the Russian Academy of Sciences А. Lukin (2018[1]), it is the coincidence of value-based concepts and cultural traditions of China and Russia that efficiently eliminated the strategic lack of trust between the two countries, laid a solid cultural foundation for cooperation in the area of education, science, and technology, as well as global management, thus promoting the development of human capital and the establishment of a non-Western platform for growth and creating strategic space for the formation of multipolar world order. The high value of science and education in Russian cultural tradition got especially clearly manifested in the outstanding achievements of the Soviet period in such areas as aerospace engineering and nuclear technology. At the same time, the main concept of “respect towards teachers and education” in Chinese Confucian system of thinking also ensures a cultural source for the strategy of priority development of education that is jointly supported by both of the countries. In the area of sustainable development, the concept of worshipping of the nature in Russian Orthodox cultural
tradition and philosophy of “the unity of heaven and man” in Chinese Taoist system of thinking ensure profound cultural and philosophic basis for cooperation of the two countries in the area of environmental protection. When establishing green technology funds and implementing environmental education projects, China and Russia inherit ecological wisdom, promote implementation of the sustainable development strategy, and give boost in terms of green development to the new platform for global growth.
Being the key BRICS member countries, traditional values of India, Brazil, and South Africa also play an irreplaceable role in human capital development and innovations in the model for global growth. Ancient Indian proverb “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (the world is family), African Ubuntu spirit (“I exist because we exist”), and Brazilian concept of multicultural fusion and symbiotic integration underscore the inclusivity and co-existence of diversity, while offering the philosophic basis that goes beyond the short-term interests and is oriented on global cooperation. In terms of human capital development these traditional values underscore inclusive development and common progress, promote equality in education and advance training, as well as offer a unique
perspective for preparation of human resources with a sense of social responsibility. In terms of innovations in the model for global growth, these value-based concepts promote open innovations, economic cooperation, and ways of sustainable development.
II. Paradoxes and challenges of the value system and human capital development
Although traditional system of cultural values contains rich cognitive wisdom and ethical resources, in course of modern transformation and further globalization it also causes complex dialectical influence on human capital development. In his research, Cai Hongbin (2013[2]), Dean of Guanghua School of Management at Peking University, assumed that deeply rooted concepts of hierarchy and collectivist orientation in traditional cultural system may suppress manifestation of individual subjectivity and development of critical thinking, which, in essence, is a structural restriction for full revealing of creative potential of human capital. In particular, the ethical norm of “respect towards elder and younger” in traditional Chinese civilization, if understood and
implemented in a simplified and static manner, may result in systematic weakening of critical consciousness and spirit of challenge that are necessary in innovative eco-system. Similarly, values of collectivist orientation in Russian cultural tradition, if unable to form limited integration and dynamic balance with the values of individual autonomy, may suppress stimulation of social entrepreneurial activity and formation of innovative human capital.
Conflicts and collisions of values in the context of further globalization are getting more complex and intense. In his book Has the West Lost It? A Provocation (2018), Mr. Kishore Mahbubani, Singaporean diplomat and international relations scholar, expressed an insightful warning: for a long-time Western world has been trying to unilaterally export its system of value-based concepts to non-Western societies while in response some local societies took the defensive position of cultural conservatism. This model of confrontational interaction between cultural values potentially results in double negative effect: on one hand, it may cause systematic loss of cultural confidence,
and on the other hand, it may provoke the growth of extremist nationalist sentiments while both of these value-based orientations fail to support healthy, open, and inclusive eco-system for human capital development.
Ubiquity of digital technology and fast rise of artificial intelligence further aggravate the adaptation problems faced by traditional values. How to maintain cultural continuity while simultaneously achieving creative transformation and innovative development of traditional
value-based concepts, how to search for a civilization dialogue paradigm of “harmony in diversity” in the global context of pluralism of values, how to find the balance between stability of traditional values and dynamics of changes in modern society under conditions of production controlled by algorithms and spread of knowledge – these questions have become key and urgent in course of elaboration of the global human capital development strategy and have to be answered by means of interdisciplinary theoretical innovations and practical researches.
III. Practical ways and institutional innovations in application of traditional cultural values to investments in human capital
1. Mechanism of modern transformation of the traditional value system
In order for traditional value-based concepts to actually play their positive role in human capital development, it is necessary to ensure their transformation fr om abstract philosophy to specific institutions. Practical studies of BRICS countries in this area are of high importance. Foreign member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Dean of the Institute of International Relations, Tsinghua University, Yan Xuetong carried out a thorough analysis of traditional Chinese philosophy and in his book Leadership and the Rise of Great Powers (2019[3]) highlighted that
value-based concepts of “Ren” (humanity) and “Yi” (justice) in Chinese cultural tradition shall not remain merely at the level of ethical discussions, but shall be transformed into specific principles and operational paradigms of international cooperation and global management. This process of transformation requires interaction of three mechanisms: the mechanism of value interpretation, the mechanism of institution implementation, and the mechanism of practical feedback. China can be an example, as their modern transformation of traditional values takes form of transformation of the inclusive concept of “harmony in diversity” into the strategy of
“rapprochement while maintaining differences” in internationalization of education, when the country absorbs high quality global educational resources while maintaining specifics of national education; transformation of the spirit of cooperation expressed in the idea of “valued harmony and restricted competition” into open and joint innovative system in the area of science and technology; transformation of popular thought expressed in the idea that “people are the foundation of the state” into people oriented development concept, which, in turn, provides for the priority of investments in human capital in national strategy.
2. Transfer and innovations of cultural values in the education system
Education as the key area of human capital formations is an important media of transfer and innovation of traditional values. How to ensure organic integration of traditional culture's wisdom into modern education system in order to educate new talents both having global vision and maintaining their cultural identity? Institutional innovations of BRICS countries in the area of education are mainly expressed in the following aspects:
1) Integration of scientific and educational traditions and modern innovations. The model of Novosibirsk Scientific Center combines traditional Russian focus on fundamental research and modern innovative eco-system, thus forming the regional innovative model of close “research-education-industry” integration. On one hand, this model maintains the Soviet tradition of focusing on fundamental sciences that is deeply rooted in the Russian education system, from emphasis on mathematics, physics, and other subjects at the secondary school level to continuous preparation of the best experts in these areas at such world class universities as Moscow State University and Saint-Petersburg State University, and on the other hand, integrates requirements of the market economy for applied transformation and prepares a group of scientific and technical experts having both profound theoretical knowledge and market consciousness.
2) Application of traditional wisdom in teaching methods. Ancient Indian practices, such as yoga and meditation, got scientific proof of their ability to improve cognitive abilities and creativity. They underscore internal self-improvement, self-discipline, and balance. These
traditional practices containing wisdom of Eastern philosophy in combination with modern development of leadership qualities are systematically implemented in modern education and corporate training, for example, in Indian Institutes of Management, and become important means to improve quality of human capital and prepare a group of business leaders both having global vision and maintaining their cultural roots. This is a model of integration of traditional values in investments in human capital.
3) Dialogue on the basis of cultural equality in international educational cooperation. The Guru-Shishya (Master-Student) tradition in classical Indian civilization contains educational philosophy that underscores profound cognitive interaction and spiritual guidance between teacher and student, but in its traditional form it can demonstrate a tendency towards elitism and internal contradiction associated with limited scalability. The mechanism of educational cooperation of BRICS countries by way of the establishment of institutional platforms, in particular, multilateral cooperation structure, such as BRICS Network
University, underscores the principle of cultural equality and diversity of knowledge in international educational cooperation, implements creative transformation of traditional educational values, and limited integration of modern technology, as well as establishes a new model of educational cooperation that overcomes hegemony of knowledge and promotes diversity of civilizations, as it efficiently reacts to possible structural restrictions of conservative culture for human capital development.
3. Reconstruction of traditional values in the digital era and new paradigm of human capital
In the context of digital transformation and rise of artificial intelligence, traditional values are facing unprecedented adaptation challenges while providing a historical opportunity for creative reconstruction. Brazilian scientist Eduardo Viveiros de Castro offered the concept of multinaturalism, as he advocates maintenance of cognitive diversity and ontological pluralism under conditions of technological changes, which provides theoretical inspiration for reinterpreting of traditional values by BRICS countries in the digital era.
First of all, in the area of digital literacy improvement BRICS countries explore innovative ways to integrate traditional ethical concepts and digital ethics. As Wang Jing notes (Wang Jing, 2022: 38[4]): “In the cyber space that is free and lonely at the same time wh ere particular living people are reduced to digital characters, in the postmodern space harmonization of traditional culture is even more necessary.” China can be an example, wh ere the practice of digital citizen education underscores integration of such traditional Chinese values as “golden mean” and “harmonious co-existence” in education in the area of network ethics in order to increase the citizens’ sense of responsibility and capacity for moral judgment, thus educating talents of the digital era who are capable of ethical thinking and social responsibility.
Secondly, in terms of the model of technological innovations, BRICS countries establish an open innovative eco-system based on traditional values of cooperation. Indian concept of “Frugal Innovation” and “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (the world is family) worldview that contain spirit of cooperation in themselves, encourage the country to
follow its unique path in the model of technological innovations. This model underscores economic efficiency, inclusivity, and sustainability, offers unique solution for special problems faced by developing countries, and agrees with the common goals of BRICS countries in the area of digital economy, green development, and inclusive growth.
Thirdly, in terms of digital management structure, BRICS countries seek to establish a new data management system based on common values. South Africa, as an important member and advocate of digital policy and strategies on the African continent, pays special attention to the principles of “priority of development” and “inclusive growth” in digital management, states that the process of data sharing and use shall reflect traditional African concepts of mutual benefit and common development, and actively promotes digital inclusivity. South Africa's experience in improvement of digital infrastructure availability, digital service cost reduction, improvement of digital skills among the population, and promotion of digital applications fulfilling the needs of various groups is important for other BRICS countries and developing countries in general.
IV. Conclusion and prospects: the new way of human capital development on the basis of consensus of multiple civilizations
BRICS countries, as a platform for cooperation, wh ere various civilization meet, have values and traditions that not only comprise the spiritual basis of the unique development path of each country, but also provide rich intellectual resources for the establishment of a new model of investments in human capital under conditions of multipolar world order. This research allows one to draw the following conclusions:
Firstly, traditional values cause dual impact on investments in human capital. On one hand, traditional values ensure long-term orientation on development that goes beyond mere economic rationality, as well as the basis for social cohesion. On the other hand, some traditional values may to a certain extent form cultural inertia as regards to innovations and changes or strengthen the existing social structures within certain social groups, which may hinder full revealing of potential of investments in human capital. In this context, traditional values after creative
transformation can significantly improve efficiency of investments in human capital due to increased social trust and motivation for education, as well as promotion of knowledge exchange.
Secondly, traditional values of BRICS countries are facing the problem of restructuring under conditions of double transformation of globalization and digitalization, but at the same time provide historical opportunity to form multiple modernity. BRICS countries shall ensure creative transformation of the values while maintaining continuity of civilizations and create more endogenous and sustainable model of investments in human capital, i. e. draw wisdom and power from their own cultural traditions in order for investments in human capital to be more compatible with their national conditions and social values, thus laying the cultural and intellectual foundation for a new platform for global growth and simultaneously forming multiple modernity.
Thirdly, BRICS countries are facing three strategic tasks in the area of value-based consensus establishment and promotion of investments in human capital: first of all, to strengthen modern interpretation and
creative transformation of traditional values so that they would be able to better react to the development challenges in the digital era; secondly, to create a more systematized and institutionalized mechanism of
cross-civilization dialogue to promote exchange of values and coordinate policy; thirdly, to further practical cooperation in the area of education, science and technology, and culture in order to establish a platform for human capital development with global impact. Due to these efforts, BRICS countries can form a new paradigm of global growth reflecting diversity of civilizations while being universally applicable and making unique contribution to the establishment of a more fair, inclusive, and sustainable global economic order.
The goal of BRICS countries’ development is not the endless growth of capital, but independent and autonomous development of the countries. However, each BRICS member country has its own political requirements, economic considerations, and significant cultural differences. This diversity constitutes both an advantage and potential barrier for the establishment of common values. Mere dialogue and economic cooperation are insufficient; in order to actually have an impact, it is necessary to come to an agreement at a more profound level
[1] Lukin A. China and Russia: The New Rapprochement / A. Lukin. - Cambridge: Polity, 2018. - 272 pp.
[2] [Electronic resource] https://wenku.baidu.com/view/a38be02fde80d4d8d05a4f0d.html?_wkts_=1741088199525&bdQuery=%E6%...
[3] Yan, Xuetong. Leadership and the Rise of Great Powers, - Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2019. - 261 pp.
[4] 王静. 数字公民伦理：网络暴力治理的新路径[J]. 华东政法大学学报, 2022, 25(04):28-40.
