This doesn't seem like a history question question to me. First of all, you're asking about differences in modern day cultures, not history. I'm also not sure it's possible to make such sweeping statements about "Asian" culture. And then to lump all other non-Asian cultures together is equally problematic. If "success" wasn't important for non-Asian cultures, how have so many of them been... successful? There's the stereotype of the Chinese or Korean parent that drives their kids to succeed (which I'm sure has some basis in actual parents), but we could just as easily point to the stereotype of the Jewish parents that push their kid to be a doctor or a lawyer. Or to American parents that push their kids to get into Ivy League schools. I'm sure many people of European descent could provide anecdotal evidence that they were pushed to study and succeed. I think you're looking for a historical explanation for a stereotype. I think the stereotype may not be correct for all Asia, and your stereotype of non-Asian cultures is also flawed.

There are probably a multitude of reasons. For example in China, because of the one child policy, there will be FOUR elderly adults to every married couple, to take care of...that puts a lot of pressure on the kids in the family to get a good job and make enough money to support their 2-4 parents (mother in law, father in law, mother, father) as their own parents age into retirement. Not to mention that there is pressure to take care of your own child as well. The positive part though is that there are typically 4 grandparents to every 1 child, so that child is probably going to get all the resources they will need to return the favor of care-taking to their own parents and in-laws.

I think it puts a lot of stress on students and working adults to develop a good work ethic though, to get that degree, get that promotion, and overall make lots of money to take care of everyone in the family.

I also think that in a lot of Asian cultures, there's this idea that your future is not just your own, but that you have a responsibility to look after your family/parents when you grow into adulthood. How well you do in school is a reflection on your own parents' reputation as "good" parents. Because of that, a lot of people are motivated/pressured to do well in academics and work, because you know other people are judging your "success" (relatives, your own parents, other asian peers, etc). I remember in high school a lot of my asian peers were always asking what grades I got on X test, as if it were a competition.

I think with other cultures, there's less of that around.

Im reading Social Origins of Dictators and Democracy right now and it appears that people see Asian when in fact its Chinese.

To clarify, success often means in terms of a Chinese family as educated and having a steady job as well as a family. Said person can support his family and expand the families wealth.

This in itself is rooted in Chinese history since unlike Western countries land was tied to Bureaucracy in that to gain large amounts of wealth you would need to be educated and pass an exam to get a position in government where you would then through various means gain wealth for the family. Sure you could hold land but it would be constantly divided through successors so more needed to be acquired constantly.

So education becomes intertwined with success since without it, it was almost impossible to become rich or "succeed" any other way.

Towns were much more rare and merchants less prevalent which also adds to the issue of education being a key defining role in success.