1st Edition

Citizens and the State Attitudes in Western Europe and East and Southeast Asia

By Takashi Inoguchi, Jean Blondel Copyright 2008
    196 Pages 4 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    196 Pages 4 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    This book is about the relationship between citizens and the state. Their relationship has tended to be argued from a top down perspective without systematically examining empirical data about their association. In contrast, Citizens and the State, analyses the relationship from a primarily bottom up standpoint. Using the 18 country cross-national survey (the Asia-Europe Survey) data it examines how citizens relate themselves to the state.

    Featuring case studies on France, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Britain, Taiwan, Japan, Indonesia, Greece, Italy, Korea, the Philippines, Portugal, Ireland, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and China, the book systematically examines the relationship by asking three questions:

    • how strongly do citizens identify themselves to the country?
    • how much confidence do citizens place in the state and its institutions?
    • how satisfied are citizens with life and politics?

    Innovatively, the book attempts to answer these questions by first setting up six types of relationship between citizens and the state via factor analysis of the survey data pertaining identity, confidence and satisfaction then by examining country profiles more closely and beyond the six types.

    The book will be of interest to students and researcher of political science, political theory, comparative political science, Asian Studies, European Studies and sociology.

    1. Introduction: The Citizen and the State  2. Six Groups of Countries  3. The Countries of ‘Happy Non Nationalists’: France, Germany, Spain and Sweden  4. The Countries of the ‘Mild Pessimists’: Britain and Taiwan  5. The Countries of ‘Hesitating’ Citizens: Japan and Indonesia  6. The Countries of the ‘Frustrated Patriots’: Greece, Italy, Korea, the Philippines and Portugal  7. The Countries in ‘Happy Development’: Ireland and Thailand  8. The Countries of the ‘Optimists’: Malaysia, Singapore, and China  9. Citizens’ Views on Policy Achievements and on Policy Performance and the Six Country Groups  10. Citizens’ Standpoints on ‘Basic Societal Values’ and the Six Country Groups  11. Conclusion

    Biography

    Takashi Inoguchi is Emeritus Professor of Political Science at the University of Tokyo, Japan.

    Jean Blondel is Professorial Fellow at the Robert Schuman Centre of Advanced Studies, European University Institute, Florence, Italy and Visiting Professor at the University of Siena, Italy.

    'This rich collection offers a unique assessment of public opinion in nine European and nine Asian countries. It is the most systematic and up-to-date cross-regional exploration of vital issues of contemporary politics. Scholars will find a treasure trove of highly relevant data and probing and imaginative interpretations.'

    Peter J. Katzenstein, Walter S. Carpenter, Jr. Professor of International Studies and Stephen Weiss Presidential Teaching Fellow, Cornell University, USA