Globalization and issues in the formation of Vietnamese spiritual value system

2. Opportunities and challenges of globalization in forming Vietnamese spiritual value system

Globalization is an objective trend that no country can deny. In that context, how do we contribute our uniqueness to the common cultural treasure? Which values of human culture do we adopt? How is the dialectic between “give” and “receive” shown in the international integration of spiritual culture? Moreover, in the context of globalization, the established spiritual value system is changing robustly. The mix of values between old and new; endogenous and exogenous; general and particular; common and specific; inherent and necessary, etc. created the value gaps of the times that have not been filled in the context of globalization.

Fully recognizing both opportunities and challenges that globalization is posing for the development of a spiritual value system is a necessary condition for us to choose and establish a spiritual value system that is suitable to the current scene. Since globalization is giving us golden opportunities for growth.

In terms of opportunities, globalization is the internationalization of cultural values of individual nations, forming universal values of humanity. The process of natural exchange, integration, and even struggle between cultures is a condition for exchange, propagation, diffusion, and mutual infiltration. When the individual values of each nation join the common human values, it will create the diversity of the cultural value system, building unified human values in diversity. Particular values join the common, universal, more open value system. The spiritual values of the nation in line with the requirements of the times still bear the responsibility of acting as a bridge to strengthen understanding, mutual trust, and friendship among nations, as well as enhance the cultural exchange and international integration activities.

In the process of participating in the global value hierarchies, the inherent cultural strength of each country continues to be affirmed, sustained and enriched. The  attribute of  culture called  “cultural resistance”  has the  best opportunity to challenge each value to be developed and fostered sustainably in the process of integration. At the same time, along with the existing values, the new and strong spiritual values that have been widely recognized can find a place in the Vietnamese value system, helping to enhance or diversify the existing spiritual values.

3. Direction to form Vietnamese value system in the context of globalization

First of all, it is necessary to identify the current Vietnamese value system.

Solving cultural and social problems of an era requires us to thoroughly understand what we have and what we need in the value hierarchies according to the requirements of history. In particular, the basic principle to build a value orientation is to derive from the development requirements of the country in each specific historical period.

The national spiritual value system is the product of the nation’s history. Cultural values can be considered an expression of the human qualities in the distinctiveness and characteristics of that nation. Vietnam’s cultural value is the crystallization of natural geographical conditions, resident characteristics, and production methods that have existed in the land of Vietnam for centuries. The spiritual value system of the nation is consolidated of all the quintessence that has been condensed during the formation, existence, and development of the nation, creating precious traditional values. These values represent the nature, characteristics, and core national culture, creating a potential and sustainable strength. Traditional values are created by generations of descendants. However, each nation cannot choose desired traditional values, but traditional values are formed on the basis of economic, historical, and social conditions of the nation itself throughout the development process. The spiritual value system of the nation is not eternal as well; it needs to be supplemented and renewed to get richer and more suitable with the characteristics and nature of time.

The national spiritual value system of Vietnam has been unanimously affirmed by researchers. These values are patriotism, solidarity, hard work and creativity, humanitarian spirit, compassion, and respect for people.

Positioning this system not only requires us to identify the values inherited from the traditional values but also requires analyzing the positions, meanings, roles, and impacts of these values (in different aspects and dimensions) in the context of current globalization.

Second, forecast the fluctuations of socio-psychological phenomena under the impact of globalization.

After over 30 years of practical implementation of the country’s renovation, we have firmly followed and step by step, sequentially, flexibly adjusted a direction of cultural development. We are well aware of the Vietnamese value system, inheriting it in the direction of development and integration. Basically, this value system has absorbed the quintessential values of the nation and the world, and also contains specific qualities that are shaping up in the new development phase of Vietnam.

Reality also shows that we are still confused and passive in dealing with the actual situations. The results of cultural studies have outlined the existing values but they have not really shown the forecast and prediction of the changing trend of the value system, the required content of the values as well as the scientific value ranking chart for Vietnamese people to cope with the change of reality.

Third, proactively and actively establish a value system on the basis of inheritance and modernization of the traditional value, integrate the values of the times, in line with the development orientation of the country in the current situation.

It is necessary to have the right and critical attitude of inheriting the traditional value system, in particular, to study to determine the criteria of traditional cultural values and the criteria for determining the quintessence of human culture to clarify what needs to be inherited, absorbed, and eliminated. Lack of criteria for evaluating values inevitably leads to two trends: either insisting that existing values are good and positive, or completely denying the old and welcoming the new without going through any set of filtering criteria. Inheriting and promoting traditional spiritual values cannot be separated from absorbing human cultural quintessence.

Keeping positive and proactive acts, we need to take advantage of opportunities, neutralize the challenges brought by globalization. At the same time, we also need to know how to impact the globalization process with our own roles and characteristics in the context of current globalization and integration. Forming a national spiritual value system needs to be associated with the process of building a new society, culture, and people that fit the times and requirements of the country in the current period. The value system must be constructed on the principle of knowledge and development, the principle of combining the endogenous and the exogenous, between the subjective idealistic desire and the performance conditions, and between the will of the leaders and community consensus. Value orientation must come from people’s expectations about their own conditions and performance. The value system needs to be general, easy to remember and understand, and easy to act on, test, and evaluate among the mass population. It is necessary to identify the responsibility for both developing the national value system and contributing to the construction of the global common cultural values.

It is necessary to actively bring Vietnamese values into the human value system, conveying the unique and distinctive characteristics of national values in line with global development criteria, step by step affi ming Vietnam’s position in culture. To achieve that, we must have an active, proactive, multilateral, and diversifi d diplomatic strategy; be friends with all countries in the world on the basis of respecting equal rights; and be making positive contributions to the peace and development of all mankind. Take advantage of every opportunity and activity to convey the valuable message that Vietnam chooses and protects.

Fourth, realize the spiritual value hierarchies effectively in social life.

To do so, it is essential to increase the effectiveness of the propaganda and education of values among the people. Deepen awareness of the role and meaning of the value system in the organization and development of society at all levels, departments, and among the masses.