“文明”与“文化”是两个不同的概念。文明与“技术因素”（包括科学技术与管理技术或制度）相联系，而文化则与“非技术因素”相联系；文明具有可变性和传播的强迫性，而文化则具有相对稳定性和可选择性；文明具有普遍性的意义，而文化则具备区域性的意义。西方现代的产权制度、法治体系、政治民主与参与等制度上的因素，都是“技术因素”，属于文明的范畴而不是一种文化。东亚地区现代化进程的主线是各个国家或地区对现代文明的态度以及引进的时间、机遇、范围及深度，而不是自身的或外来的文化因素的作用。从科技与管理两个方面的技术因素考察，不能断定世界文明的中心在２１世纪会转移到东亚。世界文明中心的转移决定于吸收眼下世界文明中心区的科学技术与管理技术的能力和以此为基础的创新的能力 “Civilization” and “culture” are two different concepts. Civilization is linked to “technological factors” (including science and technology and management techniques or systems), while culture is linked to “non-technological factors”; civilization has the force of variability and communication while culture has relative stability and Selectivity; civilization has universal significance, while culture has regional significance. The modern system of property rights, rule of law, political democracy and participation in other institutional factors are all “technical factors”, belonging to the category of civilization rather than a culture. The main course of the process of the modernization in East Asia is the attitude of all countries and regions toward the modern civilization as well as the time, opportunity, scope and depth of the introduction, not their own or external cultural factors. From the technical factors of both science and management, we can not conclude that the center of world civilization will be transferred to East Asia in the 21st century. The shift in the Center for World Civilizations is determined by the ability to absorb the science, technology and management technologies of the now-world-wide center of civilization and the innovative capabilities based on it