Multiple Choice Practice Question Administrative guidance in Japan has been overseen by an elite bureaucracy recruited on the basis of merit. characterized by government subsidization of research and development and targeting of tax breaks for specific industrial sectors key in facilitating the economy’s ability to move through the product cycle, advancing from textiles, to automobiles, to semi-conductors. characterized by an “iron triangle” of bureaucrats, politicians, and businessmen, contributing to major corruption scandals. b, c, and d only. all of the above.
Transcript
Multiple Choice Practice Question
Administrative guidance in Japan has been overseen by an elite bureaucracy recruited on the basis of merit. characterized by government subsidization of research and
development and targeting of tax breaks for specific industrial sectors
key in facilitating the economy’s ability to move through the product cycle, advancing from textiles, to automobiles, to semi-conductors.
characterized by an “iron triangle” of bureaucrats, politicians, and businessmen, contributing to major corruption scandals.
b, c, and d only. all of the above.
Multiple Choice
Answer: all of the above
Question for today
When did Japan become a democracy?
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Definition of democracy
Political RightsOpportunity to participate in choice of political
leadersVoting rightsRight to run for office
Civil LibertiesFreedom of speech, press, assembly, religionTrial by juryProtection against cruel government action
Question for today
When did Japan become a democracy? Note the policy relevance of this question.
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Political Development in Japan, pre-WW II
Recall “Meiji Restoration,” 1868 Group of reformers
overthrew Tokugawa regime
Acted in name of emperor Hence “restoration”
Political Development in Japan, pre-WW II Japan emulated advanced institutions in
the West Established new ministries
Army and Navy 1873 universal male military conscription
Education Ministry Achieved universal primary education by 1907
Political Development in Japan, pre-WW II Japanese studied other
systems, ideas 1880s translation,
publishing John Stuart Mill’s On
Liberty Rousseau’s Social
Contract
http://www.pacificcentury.org/meiji5.html
Political Development in Japan, pre-WW II Japan establishes democratic institutions
Initial goals Strengthen legitimacy of government Mobilize people in support of national goals
Constitution 1889 Established Parliament (Diet)
House of Representatives House of Peers
Males paying 15 yen in taxes can vote Tax qualifications gradually lowered
Political Development in Japan, pre-WW II Achieves universal male suffrage 1925
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Political development in Japan pre-WWII
Taisho Democracy
(1913-1932) Constitutional monarchy Parliamentary
government with prime minister
Prime minister alternated between two main political parties
Universal male suffrage, 1925
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Political development in Japan pre-WWII Constitutional flaws
Prime minister and cabinet NOT formally under parliamentary control Power derived from emperor—not parliament
Military NOT subject to parliamentary (civilian) control
Political Development in Japan
Militarization and World War II Facilitated by
Constitutional flaws Economic crisis: Depression—break down of trade
Army general prime minister Imperial Rule Assistance Association
Intended to be single, nationwide popular movement like
Nazi Party in Germany Fascist Party in Italy
Post-WW II Japan
Defeat in WW II US Occupation
Occupation reforms “Article 9” = renounce war Address constitutional flaws
Parliament Civil liberties Emperor—ceremonial role
Domination by a single political party in post-war, 20th C, democratic Japan:
LDP Why?
Sources of LDP DominanceElectoral districts—rural biasStrong record of economic growth under LDP
until 1990sSingle non-transferable vote (SNTV) system
(until 1994)Patronage / machine politics Koenkai (local support groups)
Japan as an “Uncommon Democracy”
Japan as an “Uncommon Democracy”
Pressure for reform of political institutions Crisis in LDP-dominated system (1993)
Corruption scandalsSlower economic growthForeign pressure to open markets
Pressure for reform of political institutions
Coalition of small parties in House of Representatives pushed through reforms:Reformed electoral systemOpened rice market to international importsRedistricted to reduce rural bias
Political Development in Contemporary Japan
What is current design of electoral institutions?
Why?
Political Development in Contemporary Japan
Electoral system reform (1994)House of Representatives (480 seats)“Mixed” system
300 seats elected through single member districts
by first-past-the-post 180 seats elected through multi-member districts
by proportional representation
gives small parties “voice without power”
Proportional Representation (D’Hondt) electoral rules: Example
Reform of political institutions Impact of new electoral system—NOT
revolutionary But by 1998, rise of a new party: Democratic Party of Japan 2003 DPJ “Manifesto”—party platform— tried to move toward more programmatic
politics
Possible re-alignment in Japanese politics? Old-style political appeals
Local party machines (local support groups called koenkai)
LDP has dominated in this style of politics Possible new-style political appeals???
Ideologically oriented (e.g. left-right, liberal-conservative) party platforms
DPJ is trying to compete on a party platform (as with its 2003 “Manifesto”)
Rise of DPJ DPJ strong showing
In 2003 elections, DPJ made a strong showing, establishing themselves as a credible opposition to the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), and prompting talk of Japan becoming a two-party political system.
DPJ self presentation DPJ presented itself as the only party that could truly
reform Japan's economy and administration. …the vested interests of the LDP members meant it would never be able to do so.
LDP: Liberal Democratic Party; DPJ: Democratic Party of Japan Komeito: Clean Government Party; JCP: Japan Communist PartySDP: Social Democratic Party; CP: Conservative Party
Results of 2005 Election to Japan’s House of Representatives
LDP: Liberal Democratic Party; DPJ: Democratic Party of Japan Komeito: Clean Government Party; JCP: Japan Communist PartySDP: Social Democratic Party;
LDP Leaders Prime Ministers Junichiro Koizumi
2001-06 Economic reformer Resigned according to LDP
rules on term limits
Shinzo Abe 2006- 07
Yasuo Fukuda 2007- 08
Taro Aso September 2008 -
Aso's woesJan 16th 2009
Realignment on the cards???
“…if the opposition DPJ were to win the largest share of the vote in the general election …this could produce a two-party political system in which each of the major contenders would be relatively unified ideologically--and hence would offer voters a real choice of policies.”
Results of 2009 Election to Japan’s House of Representatives
LDP: Liberal Democratic Party; DPJ: Democratic Party of Japan Komeito: Clean Government Party; JCP: Japan Communist PartySDP: Social Democratic Party; CP: Conservative Party
