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Politics of East Asia > The Politics of Japan > Flashcards

The Politics of Japan Flashcards

1
Q

Overview of Japan’s rise

A
  • Postwar reindustrialisation in record time
  • Very high standard of living
  • 1975-1989: High point of economic and political stability and growth
  • 1990-: The Lost Decade(s)

Notable: massive contrast before/after 1990
1980: economic growth, political stability and growing cultural clout and self-confidence
1990s and after: economic stagnation, political ossification and lack of self-confidence

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2
Q

Political themes in Japan 1945-present

A
  • Legacy of war/imperialism
  • Constitution(al revision)
  • Relations with west and Asia
  • Atomic energy/nuclear weapons
  • Gender inequality
  • Powerful bureaucracy
  • “The Iron Triangle”
  • Declining birthrate
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3
Q

The Political System

A
  • From 1880s: first western style government in Asia
  • At first: parliamentary system modelled on Bismarck’s Prussia
  • Postwar: multiparty system with free elections
  • 1946: Women’s vote
  • Parliament largely similar to other democratic countries
  • Though with unique system of vote distribution
  • Unusual: “one party dominant” system
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4
Q

Three pillars of the Japanese Constitution (1947)

A
  • Democracy
  • Pacifism
  • Rights & duties
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5
Q

Aspects of the 1947 constitution

A
  • Replaced quasi-absolute monarchy with liberal democracy
  • Drafted under supervision of SCAP
  • Significant input from Japanese liberal and pacifist politicians
  • Hard to amend: 2/3 majority both houses plus referendum
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6
Q

Summary of Article 9

A
  • No foreign wars
  • No armed forces
  • Self-defence
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7
Q

Interpretation of article 9: Japan Self Defence Forces (JSDF)

A
  • Founded in 1954
  • Ground Defence Force (Army), Air Self-Defence Force (Air Force) and Maritime Defence Force (Navy)
  • 8th largest military budget in the world
  • But constrained by constitution, only to be used for defence and peace keeping missions
  • From 2001: joins international counter-terrorism effort
  • Last 20 years numerous legal changes allow JSDF to move beyond defence, for example in anti-piracy missions
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8
Q

1951: Security Treaty Between the US and Japan (“Anpo”)

A
  • Unrestricted use of bases for US military
  • Security guarantee (US will safeguard Japan)
  • Complete control US over Okinawa (changed in 1972)
  • Japan’s military activities abroad restricted
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9
Q

“Anpo”: Reverberations permeate modern Japanese politics

A
  • Especially continued presence of US army highly contentious
  • 50k US troops in Japan today
  • Example: Okinawa bases
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10
Q

Japan’s political system: The Emperor

A
  • Akihito (Heisei reign 1989 - 2019)
  • Naruhito (Reiwa reign 2019-)
    – Acts as symbol of the state
    – Very few formal powers
    – Ceremonial role
    – No advisory role
    – Must act on advice of Prime Minister and Cabinet
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11
Q

Japan’s political system: The Diet

A
  • Bicameral legislature (Two houses):
  • House of Councillors
    – 242 seats
    – Six-year term (half elected every three years)
    – Cannot be dissolved prematurely
  • House of Representatives
    – 475 seats
    – Four-year term
    – Can be dissolved prematurely
    – Can issue a resolution of no confidence in the Cabinet
    – Must be dissolved by the Emperor on advice of Prime Minister
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12
Q

Diet: House of Representatives

A
  • Most powerful of the two chambers
  • Candidates elected through complex blend of Proportional Representation and First Past the Post Constituency system
  • Due to lack of Proportional Representation, rural votes carry more weight
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13
Q

Japan’s political system: The Prime Minister and Cabinet

A
  • Prime Minister nominally appointed by the Emperor
  • Prime Minister selects and removes ministers in the cabinet

The Cabinet:
- A majority of cabinet ministers must come from the Diet
- Cabinet members serve while concurrently Diet members
- All cabinet ministers must be civilians

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14
Q

Kishida Fumio as Prime Minister Sept 2021-

A
  • LDP
  • Former Foreign Minister
  • Relatively moderate and centrist
  • Some economic redistribution to middle class
  • Not very interested in changing Article 9
  • Hiroshima roots -> very involved with nuclear non-proliferation
  • International focus on containing China and North Korea, having strong ties with west
  • Improvement of relations with South Korea
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15
Q

Japan’s political system: The Supreme Court

A
  • Head of the Supreme Court:
    – Designated by the Cabinet, appointed by the Emperor
    – Appoints other members of the judiciary
    – Judicial review (rarely exercised)
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16
Q

Political parties

A
  • Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
    – Ideologically divided between mainstream conservatives and anti-mainstream conservatives
    – Some slightly more progressive factions as well
  • (Former) Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ)
    – Declined since Hatoyama’s term in government
    – Two successor parties
  • Constitutional Democratic Party (CDPJ)
    – Successor party of the DPJ
    – Centre/centre-left party
    – Main opposition party today
  • Komeito
    – Derives from quasi-Buddhist movement Soka Gakkai
    – Conservative but pacifist
    – Often in coalition with LDP
  • Japanese Communist Party
    – Has played an important role in Japanese history
    – Pacifist constitution
    – Anti-nuclear energy
  • Japan Innovation Party
    – Changed its name several times; mergers
    – Bit controversial
    – Conservative/far-right
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17
Q

The “1955 System”

A
  • Mergers of parties on left and right lead to two main dominant parties:
    – Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
    – Japan Socialist Party (JSP)
  • AKA ‘one-and-a-half party system’ because of LDP dominance
18
Q

Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)

A
  • Main conservative/right-wing party
  • But always had more progressive wing as well
  • Issue of contention within party: relations with US and neighbours
  • Continuously in power 1955-1993
  • Still mostly in power until now
  • Power base in countryside
  • Ultimate power machine with extremely close ties to business, bureaucracy and the media
19
Q

Japan Socialist Party (JSP) 1955-1990s

A
  • Main opposition party
  • Factional infighting between far-left and moderate factions
  • Issue of contention within party: relations with US and Asian neighbours
  • In 1960 the moderate faction splits off: Democratic Socialist Party
  • Very influential in terms of setting debate and providing alternative vision for Japan’s future
  • But never more than 1/3 of seats in parliament
  • From 1990s the party slowly disintegrates
20
Q

The “1955 System”: First Postwar Party System 1955-1993

A
  • Continuous LDP dominance
  • One large opposition party JSP unable to gain more than 1/3 seats in House of Representatives
21
Q

The Failure of the JSP

A
  • Strong Marxist ideology a bridge too far for public, too risky in Cold War environment
  • Continuous economic growth 1950-1990 convinced people of virtues of capitalism
  • Could not convince other opposition to join anti-LDP front, plus very divided in own ranks
  • Flexibility of LDP positions
22
Q

The “1955 System”: Second Postwar Party System 1993-present

A
  • First non-LDP government
  • LDP still predominant party until 2009
  • But strong opposition party emerges in 1990s: Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ)
23
Q

Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) 1998-2016

A
  • Merger of several opposition parties, from conservative to social-democrat
  • But generally moderately progressive policy proposals
  • Main draw: new type of leadership (For example: more women)
24
Q

DPJ Government 2009-2012

A
  • Prime Minister Hatoyama Yukio elected on promise of weakening the powerful bureaucracy: change politico-bureaucratic relations
  • Also attempted change in Japan-US security relationship / re-set relations within Asia
  • Major plans to overhaul bureaucracy and government:
    – Political control of ministries and more input from people
    – Abolish the “vice-ministerial meetings”
    – Prohibit bureaucrats from making political decisions
25
Q

Successes and failures of the DPJ Government 2009-2012

A
  • Successes:
    – Some degree of free public schooling
    – Some increase in childcare support
    – Expanded unemployment insurance
    – More regulations regarding part-time and temporary work
  • Failures:
    – Legislative productivity very low
    – Continuous infighting
    – Obstinacy from bureaucrats
    – No breakthrough with US regarding Okinawa bases
    – Mismanagement aftermath Fukushima disaster 2011
26
Q

DPJ Government 2009-2012: What went wrong?

A
  • DPJ political appointees with very limited policy-making experience handled most policy coordination among ministries
  • Bureaucratic networks highly obstinate
  • DPJ Prime Minister Kan (2010-2011) already reversed a lot of the changes
  • General view emerges that DPJ is not capable of effective governance
  • Bad luck: DPJ in power during Fukushima nuclear disaster March 2011
27
Q

Successors of DPJ 2016-2020

A
  • Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan
  • Democratic Party for the People
28
Q

Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP)

A
  • Late 2020: merger of CDP, DPP, and Social Democratic Party (SDP)
  • Now the main opposition party
  • Leader: Izumi Kenta
  • Some positions:
    – Pro-Article 9
    – Phasing out of nuclear energy
    – Government investment in renewable energy
    – Support LGBT rights and same-sex marriage
29
Q

Effects of postwar LDP dominance

A
  • Positive
    – Stable rule led to postwar economic miracle
    – Produced leaders capable of ruling
    – True: LDP flexible in following public opinion
  • Negative
    – Corruption: political elite, bureaucracy, and business are intertwined (along with a lot of media)
    – Opposition views never represented through government
    – Stagnation: no need to address structural economic and social problems
30
Q

Japan’s Elite: The Iron Triangle

A
  • LDP politicians
  • Bureaucrats
  • Big business executives
31
Q

Amakudari

A
  • Retiring high-ranking government officials taking a lucrative job in a private or semi-private corporation
  • Descent from heaven (orig. meaning)
32
Q

Abe Shinzo as Prime Minister 2006-7 2012-2020

A
  • “Abenomics”
    – Monetary easing
    – Fiscal stimulus
    – Structural reforms
  • Constitutional revision
    – Settled for “reinterpretation”
  • Controversial:
    – Nationalism
    – Desire to revise constitution
  • But secret to success: pragmatism
33
Q

Features of Abe Shinzo as Prime Minister 2006-7 2012-2020

A
  • Positive
    – Moved away from endless self-criticism over the war
    – Boosted Japan’s global standing with pragmatic foreign policy
    – Reinterpretation constitution was long overdue
    – Strong focus on economic revival
    – Bold multilateral trade agreements
  • Negative
    – Downplayed Japan’s war history
    – Needlessly alienated neighbours with “reinterpretation” constitution and nationalist rhetoric
    – Exacerbated domestic corruption and inequality
    – Endangers nation by pursuing nuclear energy
    – GDP actually lower than in 2013
34
Q

Conclusive points on Abe Shinzo as Prime Minister 2006-7 2012-2020

A
  • Massive electoral success: due to pragmatism in economic matters
  • Domestic economy was always priority, for him and for voters
  • Despite right-wing ideological views, actually shied away from ideology most of the time
  • Despite nationalist rhetoric, always refrained from going too far internationally
  • Stable and prolonged leadership greatly helped Japan’s international standing
  • Important successes: Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and Japan-EU Trade Agreement
  • BUT Abenomics had no real influence on Japan’s structural economic weakness
  • BUT Womenomics proved just a slogan, no noticeable difference for women at all
  • AND morally speaking his stance on “The History Issue” remains appalling
35
Q

“Womenomics”

A
  • PM Abe (2012-2020): “Society where women shine”
  • Aimed at promoting women to leadership positions
  • Main concern about position women: economic repercussions and low birthrate
  • Criticism: tokenism and stalling of bills that could actually create change
  • GDP boost of 13% if gender gap is closed
36
Q

Women and Politics in Japan: Koike Yuriko

A
  • Tokyo Governor 2016-
  • Ex-LDP
  • Focus on women’s issues and environmentalism
  • But also a conservative nationalist
  • Very popular in Tokyo: re-elected with 59% of vote in 2020
37
Q

Women and politics in Japan: The Parliament

A
  • Female parliamentarians: 10% (46 out of 465 seats)
  • By far lowest in industrial world
  • Global average: 26.5%
  • World nr. 164 (out of 186)
  • Regional comparison: China, ROK, and DPRK all higher percentages
  • East Asian champion: Taiwan 42.5% (nr. 21)
38
Q

Professional Position of Women

A
  • Relatively large part of workforce: 71.5% in some kind of employment; 43.6% full-time
  • Problem is with nature of part-time work
  • And the difference between regular and non-regular workers
  • 77% of those in part-time and non-regular work are women
  • Average woman has income of 40% less than average man
  • World Economic Forum: Japan ranked 104 in gender equality (out of 142)
39
Q

Concrete problems of the professional position of women

A
  • Long working hours
  • Lack of daycare facilities
  • “Matahara” = Maternity Harassment
40
Q

Japan after the Bubble

A
  • Several “Lost Decades” have led to crisis of confidence
  • Stark contrast exuberant 1980s with following decades
  • Structural economic issues and demographic timebomb endlessly lamented but never resolved
  • Last decades have seen rise in more ugly Japanese nationalism, however this is definitely not a majority sentiment
  • Despite all this: Japan is in many ways a thriving and stable middle-class society
  • In 1980s “Japan as Nr.1” rhetoric was overblown, but so is today’s pessimistic view
  • The “History Issue” has led to highly problematic relations within East Asia and can be considered perhaps Japan’s greatest international challenge today

Politics of East Asia (6 decks)

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