ANALYSE THE TEACHINGS OF CONFUCIUS AND DISCUSS FIVE WAYS THEY

CAN BE APPLIED TO IMPROVE ETHICS AND GOVERNANCE IN AFRICAN

COUNTRIES.USE SPECIFIC EXAMPLES (COUNTRIES) TO ILLUSTRATE YOUR
POINTS

Introduction

Confucius was a Chinese philosopher, political analyst, teacher and founder of the religion or
philosophy known as Confucianism. He was the pioneer of a new line of thought in the east.
Confucian is based on the teachings of Confucius compiled by his students and named the Lunyu
or the Analects. Confucius stressed the importance of a code of good conduct for a society. He
also stressed that whatever be the situations we find ourselves in, we always have a choice to
choose the right or wrong path.

Application of Confucius teaching in improving ethics and governance in Africa

Much of Confucius's teachings focused on the art of governance ,ethics and how a ruler should
act. His teachings aid in improving ethics and governance in Africa in the following ways:

First Confucius emphasized on virtuous leadership. It was essential that the ruler possess virtue.
Virtue would enable the ruler to retain the supreme position. Confucius believed that the key to
good governance lay in each man carrying out his duties as prescribed by his position within the
hierarchy. It was essential that the ruler possess virtue. Virtue would enable the ruler to retain the
supreme position. He who governs by means of his virtue is, to use an analogy, like the pole-star:
it remains in its place while all the lesser stars do homage to it(Chung, 1996).For instance, in
2005, the South African government launched an initiative Batho Pele, meaning people first,
which was aimed at improving integrity with public administration through tighter monitoring of
officials' performance and compliance with ethical practice.

Secondly Confucius saw personal development as a way to individual fulfillment that would also
enable one to take an active role in the development of the community or society at large. An
exemplary individual can be found in any humane person, not only, and not necessarily, in
hereditary aristocrats (Hinton, 1998). With this emphasis on being an exemplary individual,
Confucius believed that the good behavior of the ruler was a prerequisite for successful
government. It was especially important for rulers to cultivate their own conduct to set perfect
moral examples for their officials and people. This would allow for a government of those who
were high-minded rather than highborn (Hinton, 1998).

Also, Confucius regarded government and education as inseparable. Without good education, he
reasoned, it was impossible to find leaders who possess the virtues to run a government. "What
has one who is not able to govern himself, to do with governing others?" Confucius asked. On
war Confucius said: “When a good man has taught the common people for seven years, they
should be ready to be employed in war." and “To lead the people to war without having taught
them is to throw them away. Nigerian education since independence has failed to inculcate
national consciousness, national unity and the right types of value and attitudes for the survival
of the individuals and the Nigerian society. This situation is reflected with the spate of violence
and insecurity, coupled with the magnitude of corruption in the country. In the real sense of the
matter, an educated man should be cultured and proactive in the making of decisions for
sustainable individual, societal development and national transformation (Obanya,2011

From his teachings, Confucius believed one’s moral cultivation is the solution for all worldly
chaos. Cultivation of character is the chief concern in the life of a leader. According to his
Analects, the ideal person, or junzi, " is one who through disciplined practice sets in motion a
sympathetic vibration for others to follow," (Osborn, 2010). The qualities of the junzi include
being completely morally righteous in the sense of not being tempted by material gain or power.
Therefore, a leader should demand much of himself, tending to the seeds of jean in order to bring
harmony, respect, cooperation, and trust within the group. Only then can a leader expect the
same from followers. Kenya lacks a moral culture and institutional contexts among its leaders
that would make corruption repulsive, unattractive and unrewarding have not been developed.
Such a moral culture would help in fostering ethically sensitive and committed leaders and
citizens who would recognize fighting corruption in all its forms as their rightful and honorable
duty

Additionally, from his teachings he stressed on the need to develop trust. Confucius said, “A
gentleman first wins the trust of his people, and then he can mobilize them. Without this trust,
they might feel they are being ill-used. He first wins the trust of his prince, and then he may offer

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criticism. Without this trust, the prince might feel he is being slandered” Mistrust deteriorates
relationships, bringing suspicion and deception. People misperceive the values and motives of
others and resist taking on commitment. Confucius taught that the effects of mistrust are
camouflaged in uncertainty (Berthrong & Berthrong, 2000).Faith in leaders’ intentions has a
powerful influence on trust. Leaders are trusted when they have good intentions even though
they might occasionally stumble. Confucian philosophy stresses that people will believe in the
leaders’ capability based on their good intentions, and will help by collaborating to correct errors
(Brethrong & Berthrong, 2000). In Ghana’s public trust in electoral institutions has contributed
to a peaceful transition of power

Lastly Confucius believed in promoting empowerment. Confucius said, “As for the humane,
while they want to be established themselves, they establish others. While they want to succeed
themselves, they help others to succeed. Confucius believed that groups are living organizations,
made up of people who wish to pursue a common goal, and fellowship must be based upon
interests that create enduring relationships (Osborn, 1994). A man of merit continuously uses the
ability to improve self while cultivating the same seeds in the followers. Confucians through the
ages believed that learning alone was not enough to make a good leader (Berthrong & Berthrong,
2000). In order to support women and youth empowerment, the government in 2013, adopted the
Public Procurement and Disposal Act (preference and reservations) (Amendments), which sets
aside 30 per cent of the entire public service expenditure to go to enterprises owned by women,
youth and persons with disability.

Conclusion

For over two thousand years, Confucian philosophy has been closely related to the Chinese
imperial system as an ideological tool for rulers. It has played a major role in unifying China and
has become a force in molding the mentality and temperament of the Chinese people. Confucian
philosophy is an inexhaustible source of values, wisdom and rules for good conduct, and has
succeeded in finding a place in the modern world of leadership and followership. The Confucian
way begins with the formation of self by cultivating intelligence, compassion, service, trust, and
faithfulness. A person is never isolated but an integral part of society, and it is imperative to
extend the virtues of self to all other interpersonal relationships. The ultimate task is to develop
concern and consciousness for the welfare of mankind, only then may one be a successful leader

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