Japan

1
Japan
2
The Japanese Version

• List three things that called your
  attention/surprised you about the Japanese while
  watching the documentary Why these?
• Using the ideas presented in Lanes book,
  discuss
• What is/are the theoretical and methodological
  perspective/s from which this documentary seems
  to be conceived?
• What does an approach like the one displayed in
  the film add to the study of institutions? Which
  one is more relevant to understand politics in
  other societies?

3
Japan

• Second world industrial power (after the US)
• Stable but new democracy (after WWII)
• No military power
• Liberal and modern, but Non-Western
• Being an island, it has enjoyed relative
  isolation ( the UK) yet for a long time it has
  been influenced by China (ex written language),
  Europe and the United States (Twice)
• Unique and mysterious?

4
Japan a racist society?

• Highly homogeneous population
• OvercrowdingLimits to immigration
• Exoticizing otherness (ex Japanese perceptions
  on Americans) ? Yet, who does not exoticize the
  Other?

5
Ancient-history

• 6th century
• One clan centralizes power over many (warrior)
  tribes, and imposes emperor Jimmu.
• Confucianism and Buddhism arrive from China, and
  superimpose to the local Shinto
  faith--syncreticism.
• Development of a traditional feudal society (with
  lords, samuraihereditary warriors, continuos
  wars, serfs)
• 7th-8th centuries establishment of a centralized
  bureaucratic monarchy (Emperor appointed public
  officers Confucian idea of government by
  merit)
• 12th century (hereditary) Shoguns (feudal
  system)
• Aislationism in the 17th century, Christianity
  was forbidden, and Japanese ships were forbidden
  to leave Japan

6
Freeing Trade

• In 1853, American Commodore Perry brought to
  Japan a message from the U.S. President asking
  the Japanese to open the country to foreign trade
• The Japanese were forced to sign a treaty on
  trade...
• And many other treaties from that on (on how to
  treat foreigners legally, as well as on tariffs)

7

• The imposition of trade by the Americans led to
  internal political instability and the overthrow
  of the Tokugawa Dynasty of shoguns (1603-1867/8)
• Meiji restoration
• (samurai oligarchs)

8
From Empire to Dictatorship to Liberal Democracy

• 1868-1911 Meiji Period
• 1889 Imperial (Meiji) Constitution
• Monarchy based on divine right, powerful
  executive and weak legislature (Diet)
• The Emperor and the samurai concentrated power
  and chose the Prime Minister
• (Victorious) wars with China (1894/5) and Russia
  (1904/5) Japan acquired Taiwan and a part of
  Manchuria. Korea was incorporated in 1910, and
  the military gained power and prestige
• From WWI, Japan emerges as an economic power and
  participates in the Versailles Treaty and the
  League of Nations

9
From Empire to Dictatorship to Liberal Democracy

• Taisho (Great Righteousness) Democracy
• 1918 A commoner from the Constitutional Party
  (created in the 1880s) is elected as Prime
  Minister ?Towards Democratization?
• 1925, universal (male) suffrage and
  democratization of the lower house
• Intense political activity during the 1920s
• But rise of militarism during the 1930s
• A consequence of the economic crisis? Puppet
  civilian governmentExpansionismWAR (1937 with
  China)
• Confirmation of Emperor Hirohitos sovereignty ?
  Showa period (nationalism)
• 1940, Alliance with Italy and Germany.
  Dissolution of political parties

10
Japan WWII

• December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbour
• August 1945, use of atomic bombs by the US
• Japanese surrender and accept Postdams
  conditions
• US occupation of Japan

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From Empire to Dictatorship to Liberal Democracy

• 1947 McArthur Constitution (Gral. McArthur, head
  of the occupation forces). Emperor Hirohito stays
  in power, yet he renounces divinity and the
  rest of the nobility is abolished
• 1940s Organization of parties (Liberal,
  Socialist)
• Beginning of the economic reorganization of the
  countryState intervention (price control,
  reforms) 1950 recession ends
• 1950s
• 1952 San Francisco Treaty (US military bases on
  Japan) turns Japan into an American ally.
• 1955 Beginning of the conservative hegemony
  (emphasis on economic growth and redistribution)
• Strong debates between parties on the right and
  the left about the role and future of Japan
  (riots)

12
The Japanese miracle.

• 9 annual economic growth from 1955 to 1973 (and
  4-5 afterwards).
• In 1970, Japan was the 3rd economy in the world.
• Secrets
• State planning (Take off MITI). Corporate/gvt.
  Ties
• Long term investments (and expected gains)
• Technology
• Good conditions for workers/consumers
• Skilled workforce

13
The Japanese miracle

• Despite the 1973 Oil crisis, growth continues
• (late 70s) From electronics to a Knowledge
  economy. Scholarly theorizations on
• Post-Fordism or
• Toyotism
• Declining role of MITI
• 1987 Peak of the miracle
• 1988-92- Financial Crisis (Bubble economy)

14
The Government

• Constitutional monarchy (male Emperor)
• Emperor Akihito (1989) Heisei Era (Peace
  Attained). Years of the eras frame the calendar
• Unitary State (47 prefectures)
• Parliamentary democracy (Prime Minister/Cabinet)
• (The United Kingdom?)
• (but)
• Written Constitution the MacArthur Constitution
  consecrates the people as the sovereign

15
Art. 9 Japanese Constitution

• Japan renounced to use military power (in fact,
  Japan has a strong military)

16
Political Parties

• Oirigin Samurai struggles (of those excluded
  from power) during the 19th century
• 1898 Constitutional party
• 1940 Party (self) dissolution
• 1945-55 Multi-party system
• 1955 (two Socialist fractions unite, and the
  Conservative form the Liberal Democratic Party)
• 1955-1993 One-party dominant system
• 1993 New electoral system

17
Liberal Democratic Partys Hegemony

• From 1945-55 multi-party system
• From 1955 to 1993, the LDP won every general
  election. One-party-dominant-system.
• 1970s Frequent changes in cabinet, PM
  resignation, factions.
• Late 80s early 90s Economic Recession
• LDP dominance ends in 1993, yet it returns in
  1994 leading diff. coalitions (liberal/leftist)
  One PM every year

18
1993 New Coalition (Morihiro Hosokawa)Electoral
Law

• Lower House 500 representatives, 300 elected
  through SMD and 200 (reduced to 180 in 2000)
  through proportional representation
• Each voter casts two ballots
• Preferred candidate in the SMD
• Preferred party
• Upper House (2000 law) 253 (?)
• SNTV (single member non transferable vote)

19
Japan Politics Today

• Unstable party system (continous formation and
  disintegration of partiesTV)
• 2001Popular and charismatic Junichiro Koizumi
  became prime minister. Reform promises resulted
  in little concrete change, and the economic
  crisis continues. Japanese society has changed in
  the last decade, and it is not clear how to
  return to growth.
• Uncertainty about the international role/s Japan
  may have to play
• Increasing disillusionment from politics
• Corruption

20
The Executive

• Prime Minister (Junichiro Koizumi) (elected by
  the lower House but appointed by the Emperor) may
  submit bills in the name of the cabinet
• Member of the majority, or representing a
  coalition.
• Commander-in-chief of the defense forces
• Can be removed by votes of no confidence
• Cabinet (most of its members come from the Diet
  UK)

21
Legislative

• The Diet (highest organ of government, created in
  1889) Kokkai
• House of Councillors (252? 247?, 6 year-term,
  renewal of the half every three years). Combines
  SMD PR
• House of Representatives (480, 4-year-term). 300
  seats are distributed by through SMD, and 200
  through PR, the rest through PR (11 blocks). It
  has the greater power. Can be dissolved
  (generally every 2 or 3 years). General
  elections. Each voter casts 2 votes
• ( German system)
• The members of both houses are elected
  democratically through suffrage (diff. With the
  UK and Germany)

22
The Judiciary (Unitary System)

• Supreme Court (appointed by the cabinetits head
  ceremonially appointed by the Emperor. It is
  subjected to the peoples approval in the next
  election) has the power of judicial review
• 8 High courts
• 50 District Courts
• 50 Family Courts
• Summary Courts

23
Source McNelly, Theodore, The Government of
Japan,Intro. To Comparative Gvt.
Diet
Election
Dissolution
Legislation
Des. Prime Minister/ No Confidence
Review legislation
People (sovereign)
Administration
Review
Cabinet
Supreme Court
Appointment of judges
Administration of justice
24
The State Bureaucracy

• Prestigious bureaucratic careers (enhanced by the
  Confucian tradition)
• Insulation
• Cabinet members tend to be career politicians
  (and leading politicians frequently come from
  bureaucratic careers)
• Links to corporations

25
Importance of Consensus

• Deliberation councils linked to interest groups
  within the community informally intervene in the
  legislative process (prepare bills)
• Link Syllabus class on Post-war Japan