I nglehart‐ W elzel's T raditional vs. R ational index revisited: A comparison between C hina and the W est

I nglehart‐Welzel's ‘Traditional‐Rational’ I ndex has been widely accepted as a way to summarize changes in values between agricultural and industrial societies. An empirical re‐examination of the I ndex using the most recent W orld V alues S urvey data, however, suggests that it fails to represent the value profiles of mainland C hinese. I introduce a five‐item measurement called ‘ C onfucian I ndex of interpersonal relations’. It aims to capture some salient values in C hinese culture and show that, in C hina, Confucian values that govern interpersonal relations within one's immediate social environment are not in conflict with support for democratic government and social liberal values, such as tolerance and trust. The opposite is very much true in the rich West, where those who endorse ‘Confucian’ values are less tolerant of social diversity and where I nglehart's I ndex does make a lot of sense.