DOCSLIB.ORG

The Liberal Democratic Party: Still the Most Powerful Party in Japan

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Liberal Democratic Party: Still the Most Powerful Party in Japan The Liberal Democratic Party: Still the Most Powerful Party in Japan Ronald J. Hrebenar and Akira Nakamura The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) was the national-level ruling party of Japan throughout the entire First Party System (1955–1993). Among the politi- cal systems of non-Socialist developed nations, Japan is unique in that except for a short period after World War II, when a Socialist-centered coalition gov- ernment ruled Japan in 1947–1948, conservative forces have continuously held power on the national level. In 1955, when two conservative parties merged to form the LDP, conservative rule was concentrated within that single organiza- tion and maintained its reign as the governing party for thirty-eight years. It lost its majority in the weak House of Councillors (HC) in the 1989 elections and then lost its control of the crucial House of Representatives (HR) in 1993. However, it returned to the cabinet in January 1996 and gained a majority of HR seats in September 1997. Since the fall of 1997, the LDP has returned to its long-term position as the sole ruling party on the Japanese national level of politics. However shaky the LDP’s current hold, its record is certainly un- precedented among the ruling democratic parties in the world. All of its com- petition for the “years in power” record have fallen by the sidelines over the decades. The Socialist Party of Sweden and the Christian Democratic Party of Italy have both fallen on hard times in recent years, and whereas the Socialists have managed to regain power in Sweden in a coalition, the CDP of Italy has self-destructed while the leftists have run Italy since 1996. The LDP prime minister in office when his party regained a majority in the HR, Hashimoto Ryutaro, seemed to have a good future to continue on as the prime minister until the new century, but it all collapsed in July 1998 when the LDP was hammered in the HC elections. Hashimoto was forced to re- sign, and the apparently secure LDP had to contemplate new elections for the HR less than two years after the previous contest. The LDP still governs Japan, but its grip on power is shaky (see Table 4.1) Source: Hrebenar, Ronald J., “The Liberal Democratic Party: Still the Most Powerful Party in Japan, in Ronad J. Hrebnar, Japan’s New Party System, Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 2000, ch. 4, pp. 85–147. © koninklijke brill nv, leiden, 2018 | doi:10.1163/9789004380554_058 The Liberal Democratic Party 1413 BOX 4.1 Coalition Governments in Postwar Japan The LDP-Liberal Party coalition government established in January 1999 was the tenth such coalition government in the postwar era. Five of these coalition governments have been formed during the Second Party System (1993–). Several of the early coalitions were formed by various parties from both the left and right wings of Japanese politics in the years of the later 1940s. The first coalition was formed in 1946 by Prime Minister Yoshida Shigeru between the Liberal and Progressive Parties. Perhaps the most famous of these pre-1955 coalitions was the 1947 Katayama coalition gov- ernment, which was the first and last Socialist government until the 1994 Murayama coalition. Beginning in 1955 with the formation of the LDP, there were no coalitions of any type until the LDP invited Kono Yohei’s New Liberal Club, a conservative splinter group from the LDP, to join the Nakasone cabinet in 1983. The LDP had won only 250 HR seats in the 1983 elections, and after adding 9 independents to the party it had a pure ma- jority but not a comfortable “working majority.” The eight HR seats held by the NLC provided that margin sought by the LDP. The NLC filled the home affairs minister portfolio in two Nakasone cabinets and received a total of three ministries and three parliamentary vice ministers positions during the three years of the coalition (1983–1986). The beginning of the Second Party System in 1993 has been marked by a coalition-government style of politics. Hosokawa’s cabinet was a com- bination of ministers representing almost all the HR parties except the LDP and JCP. The Hata government, which lasted only a few weeks in 1994, represented all the HR parties except the LDP, JCP, and Socialists. The most interesting, and certainly the most unexpected, coalitions were the two Murayama “grand coalitions” of the LDP-SDP-Sakigake Parties. The LDP had the numbers—both in the HR and in the cabinets— while the SDP got the prime minister and a few minor cabinet ministries and the Sakigake received the finance ministry at a time of unremitting financial troubles in Japan. These “grand coalitions” continued until after the October 1996 HR elections in which the LDP did well enough to form a minority government cabinet with Sakigake and SDP support in the Diet. These noncabinet “coalitions” fell apart after the LDP secured enough seats in the HR in September 1997 to have a pure majority by itself..
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Politics of Coalition in India
    Journal of Power, Politics & Governance March 2014, Vol. 2, No. 1, pp. 01–11 ISSN: 2372-4919 (Print), 2372-4927 (Online) Copyright © The Author(s). 2014. All Rights Reserved. Published by American Research Institute for Policy Development Politics of Coalition in India Farooq Ahmad Malik1 and Bilal Ahmad Malik2 Abstract The paper wants to highlight the evolution of coalition governments in india. The evaluation of coalition politics and an analysis of how far coalition remains dynamic yet stable. How difficult it is to make policy decisions when coalition of ideologies forms the government. More often coalitions are formed to prevent a common enemy from the government and capturing the power. Equally interesting is the fact a coalition devoid of ideological mornings survives till the enemy is humbled. While making political adjustments, principles may have to be set aside and in this process ideology becomes the first victim. Once the euphoria victory is over, differences come to the surface and the structure collapses like a pack of cards. On the grounds of research, facts and history one has to acknowledge india lives in politics of coalition. Keywords: india, government, coalition, withdrawal, ideology, partner, alliance, politics, union Introduction Coalition is a phenomenon of a multi-party government where a number of minority parties join hands for the purpose of running the government which is otherwise not possible. A coalition is formed when many groups come into common terms with each other and define a common programme or agenda on which they work. A coalition government always remains in pulls and pressures particularly in a multinational country like india.
    [Show full text]
  • Anti-Establishment Coalition Governments in Southern Europe: Greece and Italy
    Anti-establishment coalition governments in Southern Europe: Greece and Italy Vasiliki Georgiadou Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, 136 Syngrou Ave. 17671, Athens, Greece. Email: [email protected] Jenny Mavropoulou Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, 136 Syngrou Ave. 17671, Athens, Greece. Email: [email protected] Abstract Anti-establishment parties with either a left-wing or a right-wing ideological slant have been entering contemporary European Democracies with sizeable vote shares. During the Great Recession, the Greek and the Italian party system could be perceived as convergent case-studies for the formation and breakthrough of anti-establishment parties. Given the fact that ideologically diverging anti- establishment parties – the Coalition of the Radical Left - Social Unionist Front (SYRIZA) and the Independent Greeks (ANEL) in the Greek case, as well as the Five Star Movement (M5S) and the League in the Italian one – came to power and formed coalition governments, the primary goal of this article is to enquire into supply-side parameters, exploring potential associations along a range of programmatic stances and policy dimensions that effectuated these governing alliances. Using the Comparative Manifesto Project dataset, our findings confirm the existence of expected programmatic differences as well as a converging policymaking basis between the anti-establishment coalition partners of both governing alliances. Keywords: anti-establishment parties, SYRIZA, ANEL, M5S, League, supply-side,
    [Show full text]
  • Management Challenges at the Centre of Government: Coalition Situations and Government Transitions
    SIGMA Papers No. 22 Management Challenges at the Centre of Government: OECD Coalition Situations and Government Transitions https://dx.doi.org/10.1787/5kml614vl4wh-en Unclassified CCET/SIGMA/PUMA(98)1 Organisation de Coopération et de Développement Economiques OLIS : 10-Feb-1998 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Dist. : 11-Feb-1998 __________________________________________________________________________________________ Or. Eng. SUPPORT FOR IMPROVEMENT IN GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES (SIGMA) A JOINT INITIATIVE OF THE OECD/CCET AND EC/PHARE Unclassified CCET/SIGMA/PUMA Cancels & replaces the same document: distributed 26-Jan-1998 ( 98 ) 1 MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES AT THE CENTRE OF GOVERNMENT: COALITION SITUATIONS AND GOVERNMENT TRANSITIONS SIGMA PAPERS: No. 22 Or. En 61747 g . Document complet disponible sur OLIS dans son format d'origine Complete document available on OLIS in its original format CCET/SIGMA/PUMA(98)1 THE SIGMA PROGRAMME SIGMA — Support for Improvement in Governance and Management in Central and Eastern European Countries — is a joint initiative of the OECD Centre for Co-operation with the Economies in Transition and the European Union’s Phare Programme. The initiative supports public administration reform efforts in thirteen countries in transition, and is financed mostly by Phare. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development is an intergovernmental organisation of 29 democracies with advanced market economies. The Centre channels the Organisation’s advice and assistance over a wide range of economic issues to reforming countries in Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. Phare provides grant financing to support its partner countries in Central and Eastern Europe to the stage where they are ready to assume the obligations of membership of the European Union.
    [Show full text]
  • ESS9 Appendix A3 Political Parties Ed
    APPENDIX A3 POLITICAL PARTIES, ESS9 - 2018 ed. 3.0 Austria 2 Belgium 4 Bulgaria 7 Croatia 8 Cyprus 10 Czechia 12 Denmark 14 Estonia 15 Finland 17 France 19 Germany 20 Hungary 21 Iceland 23 Ireland 25 Italy 26 Latvia 28 Lithuania 31 Montenegro 34 Netherlands 36 Norway 38 Poland 40 Portugal 44 Serbia 47 Slovakia 52 Slovenia 53 Spain 54 Sweden 57 Switzerland 58 United Kingdom 61 Version Notes, ESS9 Appendix A3 POLITICAL PARTIES ESS9 edition 3.0 (published 10.12.20): Changes from previous edition: Additional countries: Denmark, Iceland. ESS9 edition 2.0 (published 15.06.20): Changes from previous edition: Additional countries: Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden. Austria 1. Political parties Language used in data file: German Year of last election: 2017 Official party names, English 1. Sozialdemokratische Partei Österreichs (SPÖ) - Social Democratic Party of Austria - 26.9 % names/translation, and size in last 2. Österreichische Volkspartei (ÖVP) - Austrian People's Party - 31.5 % election: 3. Freiheitliche Partei Österreichs (FPÖ) - Freedom Party of Austria - 26.0 % 4. Liste Peter Pilz (PILZ) - PILZ - 4.4 % 5. Die Grünen – Die Grüne Alternative (Grüne) - The Greens – The Green Alternative - 3.8 % 6. Kommunistische Partei Österreichs (KPÖ) - Communist Party of Austria - 0.8 % 7. NEOS – Das Neue Österreich und Liberales Forum (NEOS) - NEOS – The New Austria and Liberal Forum - 5.3 % 8. G!LT - Verein zur Förderung der Offenen Demokratie (GILT) - My Vote Counts! - 1.0 % Description of political parties listed 1. The Social Democratic Party (Sozialdemokratische Partei Österreichs, or SPÖ) is a social above democratic/center-left political party that was founded in 1888 as the Social Democratic Worker's Party (Sozialdemokratische Arbeiterpartei, or SDAP), when Victor Adler managed to unite the various opposing factions.
    [Show full text]
  • How Electoral Agency Shapes the Political Logic of Costs and Benefits
    Coalition Parties versus Coalitions of Parties: How Electoral Agency Shapes the Political Logic of Costs and Benefits by Kathleen Bawn Department of Political Science UCLA and Frances Rosenbluth Department of Political Science Yale University Draft 1.10 August 2002 Abstract This paper argues that governments formed from post-election coalitions (majority coalition governments in PR systems) and pre-election coalitions (majority parties in SMD systems) aggregate the interests of voters in systematically different ways. We show that the multiple policy dimensional policy space that emerges from PR rules motivate parties in the government coalition to logroll projects among themselves without internalizing the costs of those projects in the same way that a majoritarian party would be forced to do. The size of government should therefore tend to be larger in PR systems. We further show that, although centrifugal electoral incentives dominate in PR systems, some incentives towards coalescence across groups and across parties exist through the greater likelihood that large parties have in becoming a member of a minimal winning coalition of parties. This paper was prepared for presentation at the annual meetings of the American Political Science Association, held in Boston, Massachusetts, August 28-September 2. Frances Rosenbluth would like to thank the Yale Provost Office and the Yale Leitner Program in International Political Economy for funding. We gratefully acknowledge the able research assistance of Abbie Erler and Mathias Hounpke in conducting this research. Introduction Democratic government is government by coalition. In many parliamentary systems, governments are explicit multi-party coalitions. Even in cases of single party government, a party that wins a parliamentary majority represents -- almost by definition -- a coalition of interests.
    [Show full text]
  • Coalition Formation and the Regime Divide in Central Europe
    Program on Central & Eastern Europe Working Paper Series #52, j\Tovember 1999 Coalition Formation and the Regime Divide in Central Europe Anna Grzymala-Busse· Weatherhead Center for International Affairs Harvard University Cambridge, lvlA 02138 Abstract The study examines the formation of coalitions in East Central Europe after the democratic transi­ tions of 1989. Existing explanations of coalition formations, which focus on either office-seeking and minimum wmning considerations, or on policy-seeking and spatial ideological convergence. However, they fail to account for the coalition patterns in the new democracies of East Central Europe. Instead, these parties' flrst goal is to develop clear and consistent reputations. To that end, they will form coalitions exclusively within the two camps of the regime divide: that is, amongst par­ ties stemming from the former communist parties, and those with roots in the former opposition to the communist regimes. The two corollaries are that defectors are punished at unusually high rates, and the communist party successors seek, rather than are sought for, coalitions. This model explains 85% of the coalitions that formed in the region after 1989. The study then examines the communist successor parties, and how their efforts illustrate these dynamics . • I would like to thank Grzegorz Ekiert, Gary King, Kenneth Shepsle, Michael Tomz, and the participants ofthe Faculty Workshop at Yale University for their helpful comments. 2 I. Introduction The patterns of coalition fonnation in East Central Europe are as diverse as they are puzzling. Since the ability to fonn stable governing coalitions is a basic precondition of effective democratic governance in multi-party parliamentary systems, several explanations have emerged of how political parties fonn such coalitions.
    [Show full text]
  • Political Leadership in Contemporary Japan
    THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN CENTER FOR JAPANESE STUDIES MICHIGAN PAPERS IN JAPANESE STUDIES NO. 1 POLITICAL LEADERSHIP IN CONTEMPORARY JAPAN edited by Terry Edward MacDougall Ann Arbor Center for Japanese Studies The University of Michigan 1982 Open access edition funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities/ Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Humanities Open Book Program. ISBN 0-939512-06-8 Copyright © 1982 by Center for Japanese Studies The University of Michigan Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Political leadership in contemporary Japan. (Michigan papers in Japanese studies; no. 1) Includes bibliographies. 1. Political parties—Japan. 2. Politicians- Japan. 3. Leadership. 4. Japan—Politics and government—1945- . I. MacDougall, Terry Edward, 1941- . n. University of Michigan. Center for Japanese Studies. HI. Series. JQ1698.A1P64 1982 324.252 82-9634 ISBN 0-939512-06-8 Printed in the United States of America ISBN 978-0-939512-06-5 (paper) ISBN 978-0-472-12803-7 (ebook) ISBN 978-0-472-90198-2 (open access) The text of this book is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction vii Terry Edward MacDougall Kanryo vs. Shomin: Contrasting Dynamics of 1 Conservative Leadership in Postwar Japan Kent E. Calder Liberal Democrats in Disarray: Intergenerational 29 Conflict in the Conservative Camp Susan J. Pharr Asukata Ichio and Some Dilemmas of Socialist 51 Leadership in Japan Terry Edward MacDougall Japanese Parties and Parliament: Changing Leadership 93 Roles and Role Conflict Ellis S. Krauss Mayoral Leadership in Japan: Whatrs in a Sewer Pipe? 115 Ronald Aqua Power Behind the Throne 127 Richard J.
    [Show full text]
  • Coalition Government in India : a Critical Analysis
    Indian J. Soc.& Pol. 04(02):2017:23-26 ISSN 2348-0084(P) ISSN 2455-2127(O) COALITION GOVERNMENT IN INDIA : A CRITICAL ANALYSIS KUSUM LATA1 1Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science,Government Girls College Bhilwara, Rajasthan, India ABSTRACT Present research paper provides an overview of the functioning of coalition governments in the country and understanding of the system of coalition and an evaluation of its implications for society with an Indian Experience. Coalition Politics is based on a system of governance by a group of political parties or by several political parties. After general election, when there is no party in a position to get a majority in the parliament and some parties Form a coalition alliance. Thus this government is said a coalition Government. KEY WORDS : Congress, Centre Coalition, Democracy, Election Government, India, Nation, Politics State, Union, Provinces, Parliament. INTRODUCTION for at least two of the players (or actors) the possibility that they can do better by co-coordinating their resources India is the largest demo-critic country in the than by acting alone (Ram 2007). world. Indian political system is a multiparty system. There are so many national and regional parties. They COALITION GOVERNMENT IN INDIA participant in general election. Political parties are The congress party, though recognized as the indispensable to any democratic system. They play the Leviathan of Indian politics, emerged as the torch bearer most important role in the Electoral process in setting up of the national movement largely as a coalitional force. It candidates and conducting election campaigns. The brought within its fold various multitudes of different parliamentary democracy consists of an elected political shades and leadership with the singular objective representative parliament which is supreme, a cabinet of redeeming the country of imperialist hegemony of the collectively responsible to parliament, a prime minister British.
    [Show full text]
  • IRI-2020-01 Japan's Foreign Policymaking Process and Power Shift
    IRI Joint Research Series IRI-2020-01 Japan's Foreign Policymaking Process and Power Shift Tomohito Shinoda International University of Japan March 2020 IUJ Research Institute International University of Japan These working papers are preliminary research documents published by the IUJ research institute. To facilitate prompt distribution, they have not been formally reviewed and edited. They are circulated in order to stimulate discussion and critical comment and may be revised. The views and interpretations expressed in these papers are those of the author(s). It is expected that the working papers will be published in some other form. Japan’s Foreign Policymaking Process and Power Shift Tomohito Shinoda Introduction Since the end of the Cold War era, Japan has experienced four political regime shifts between different parties. The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) first ceased its 38-year long reign in August 1993 with the establishment of the non-LDP coalition government led by Morihiro Hosokawa. This coalition lasted only ten months until June 1994 when the LDP regained power with the partnership with the Socialist Party and Sakigake. In September 2009, as a result of the landslide victory in the general election, the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) took over the government. Another landslide election victory, however, brought the LDP back in power in December 2012. Political regime changes between different parties in a variety of nations often provoke foreign and national security policy restructurings, as challenging parties run election campaigns usually by criticizing the incumbent’s policies. For example, changes at the time of regime shift have been dominant feature of United States foreign policy.
    [Show full text]
  • 1. the Politics of Legacy
    UC San Diego UC San Diego Electronic Theses and Dissertations Title Succeeding in politics : dynasties in democracies Permalink https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1dv7f7bb Authors Smith, Daniel Markham Smith, Daniel Markham Publication Date 2012 Peer reviewed|Thesis/dissertation eScholarship.org Powered by the California Digital Library University of California UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO Succeeding in Politics: Dynasties in Democracies A Dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science by Daniel Markham Smith Committee in charge: Professor Kaare Strøm, Chair Professor Gary W. Cox Professor Gary C. Jacobson Professor Ellis S. Krauss Professor Krislert Samphantharak Professor Matthew S. Shugart 2012 ! Daniel Markham Smith, 2012 All rights reserved. The Dissertation of Daniel Markham Smith is approved, and it is acceptable in quality and form for publication on microfilm and electronically: Chair University of California, San Diego 2012 iii DEDICATION To my mother and father, from whom I have inherited so much. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Signature page……………………………………………………………………………iii Dedication………………………………………………………………………………...iv Table of Contents………………………………………………………………………….v List of Abbreviations………………………….………………………………………....vii List of Figures……………………………...……………………………………………viii List of Tables……………………………………………………………………………...x Acknowledgments……………………………………………………………………….xii Vita………………………………………………………………………………………xv Abstract………………………………………………………………………………….xvi 1. The
    [Show full text]
  • Governments of National Unity: Analyzing the Conditions Influencing Dissolution
    Governments of National Unity: Analyzing the Conditions Influencing Dissolution Prepared for the U.S. Government Office of South Asia Analysis By Dylan Blake Olivia Butler Ryan Dunk Michelle Duren Katie Jenkins Joel Lashmore Allison Sambo Workshop in International Public Affairs Spring 2015 ©2015 Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System All rights reserved. For an online copy, see www.lafollette.wisc.edu/research-public-service/workshops-in-public-affairs [email protected] The Robert M. La Follette School of Public Affairs is a teaching and research department of the University of Wisconsin–Madison. The school takes no stand on policy issues; opinions expressed in these pages reflect the views of the authors. The University of Wisconsin–Madison is an equal opportunity and affirmative-action educator and employer. We promote excellence through diversity in all programs. Table of Contents List of Tables ................................................................................................................................. iv List of Figures ................................................................................................................................ iv Foreword ......................................................................................................................................... v Acknowledgments .......................................................................................................................... vi Executive Summary .....................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Japan Under Construction: Corruption, Politics, and Public Works
    Preferred Citation: Woodall, Brian. Japan under Construction: Corruption, Politics, and Public Works. Berkeley, Calif: University of California Press, c1996 1996. http://ark.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/ft5489n9zf/ Japan Under Construction Corruption, Politics, and Public Works Brian Woodall UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRESS Berkeley · Los Angeles · Oxford © 1996 The Regents of the University of California To Joyce, Leslie, and Melissa Preferred Citation: Woodall, Brian. Japan under Construction: Corruption, Politics, and Public Works. Berkeley, Calif: University of California Press, c1996 1996. http://ark.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/ft5489n9zf/ To Joyce, Leslie, and Melissa ― ix ― Acknowledgments In researching this book, I have drawn extensively on Japanese-language materials: newspaper reports, periodicals, industry association publications, and government documents. In addition, I conducted over one hundred open-ended interviews, primarily in 1987–1988 and in 1993–1994. Almost all of these interviews were conducted in Japanese, each lasting about an hour. I spoke with construction contractors, industry association officials, elected politicians and their aides, political party officials, government bureaucrats, newspaper reporters, and academics. Because of the highly sensitive, and sometimes sub rosa, nature of the subject matter, I cannot identify these individuals by name. For their willingness to answer sometimes naive questions and to assist in other ways, however, I owe a deep debt of gratitude. At the time I undertook this study, sensible people warned me about the quagmire that lay ahead. They alerted me to the difficulties of handling the shadowy actors engaged in the complex and secretive process of rigging bids on public works projects. Others warned me about dealings with the government bureaucrats and legislators who also animate the policymaking stage in this heretofore strictly "domestic" domain.
    [Show full text]