1st Edition

The Democratic Party of Japan in Power Challenges and Failures

Edited By Yoichi Funabashi, Koichi Nakano Copyright 2017
    222 Pages 11 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    222 Pages 11 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    When the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) came to power in September 2009, Japanese citizens expected the imminent arrival of a new political era, characterized by a two-party system. However, in addition to the triple disasters of March 2011, the DPJ faced numerous difficulties arising from its controversial policies and massive party defections following the government’s consumption tax hike legislation. The DPJ fell from power following a crushing defeat in the 2012 Lower House election, in which its seat total was drastically reduced.

    This book examines the September 2009-December 2012 administration of the DPJ from various perspectives, including policies, party governance, management, and legacy. It identifies the significance of the DPJ to Japan’s party politics, explains the reasons for its downfall, and derives crucial lessons for the future of party democracy in Japan. The contributors, a team of professional academics and a lawyer, analyse the policies and events of the DPJ administration based on their interviews with key DPJ politicians and related persons at or close to the centre of the administration. Together they elicit insights from the experiences of the DPJ government to inform the expectations of Japan’s party democracy.

    Explaining how the failure of the DPJ government has long-term importance for understanding Japanese politics, this book will be invaluable for students and scholars of the field.

    Foreword, Yōichi Funabashi Preface to the English Edition, Kōichi Nakano Introduction: The DPJ’s Evolution and Three Years in Power, Kōichi Nakano 1. The Manifesto: Why was the DPJ Unable to Keep its Campaign Promises? Kōji Nakakita 2. Political Leadership: The Failure of the DPJ’s "Five Measures", Akihisa Shiozaki 3 The Economy and Public Finance: The Challenges and Setbacks of Reform, Hideaki Tanaka 4. Foreign Policy and Security under the DPJ: From Idealism to Pragmatism, Ken Jimbo 5. The Child Allowance: A Failed Attempt to Put "Children First" Kumiko Hagiwara 6. The DPJ’s Mismanagement of Administration and Party: Was Ozawa Alone to Blame? Kōichi Nakano 7. DPJ Election Strategy: The Dilemma of Landslide Victory, Phillip Y. Lipscy 8. Conclusion, Yōichi Funabashi Afterword, Yōichi Funabashi

    Biography

    Yoichi Funabashi is Chairman of the Rebuild Japan Initiative Foundation and former Editor-in-Chief for the Asahi Shinbun.

    Koichi Nakano is Professor of Political Science, Sophia University, Japan.