The Failure of Political Opposition in Japan: Implications for Democracy and a Vision of the Future

This book explores the party politics and political system of Japan, which has been dominated by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) since 1955. It argues that Japan has lost its way and needs to move away from single-party dominance to combat economic, social, and political stagnation. Comparisons are made with other parliamentary democracies to indicate that single-party dominance is an inadequate substitute for competition between genuine political alternatives.

Format: Hardback
Length: 146 pages
Publication date: 30 September 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive book delves into the intricate dynamics of party politics and the political system in Japan, which has been dominated by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) since 1955. With a particular focus on the evolution of LDP governments between the 1990s and 2010s, the book explores various aspects of Japanese politics, including the legacy of post-war opposition parties, the politics of electoral reform, and the crucial role of foreign policy, particularly in relation to China.

The author argues that Japan has lost its way and needs to move away from single-party dominance to recover. Despite the failures of the Democratic Party (DPJ) government from 2009 to 2012, the book explores the reasons for those failures and emphasizes the need for a more pluralist political environment in which vigorous opposition parties can challenge the LDP monopoly of policy and personnel.

The book makes comparisons with other parliamentary democracies, such as the United Kingdom, Australia, and Sweden, to demonstrate that single-party dominance is an inadequate substitute for competition between genuine political alternatives. As an analysis of opposition party politics in post-war Japan, this book will be a valuable resource for students and scholars of Political Science, International Relations, Asian Studies, and Japanese Studies.

The book explores the party politics and political system of Japan, which has been dominated by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) since 1955. With a particular focus on the evolution of LDP governments between the 1990s and 2010s, the book examines various aspects of Japanese politics, including the legacy of post-war opposition parties, the politics of electoral reform, and the crucial role of foreign policy, particularly in relation to China.

The author argues that Japan has lost its way and needs to move away from single-party dominance to recover. Despite the failures of the Democratic Party (DPJ) government from 2009 to 2012, the book explores the reasons for those failures and emphasizes the need for a more pluralist political environment in which vigorous opposition parties can challenge the LDP monopoly of policy and personnel.

The book makes comparisons with other parliamentary democracies, such as the United Kingdom, Australia, and Sweden, to demonstrate that single-party dominance is an inadequate substitute for competition between genuine political alternatives. As an analysis of opposition party politics in post-war Japan, this book will be a valuable resource for students and scholars of Political Science, International Relations, Asian Studies, and Japanese Studies.

The book explores the party politics and political system of Japan, which has been dominated by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) since 1955. With a particular focus on the evolution of LDP governments between the 1990s and 2010s, the book examines various aspects of Japanese politics, including the legacy of post-war opposition parties, the politics of electoral reform, and the crucial role of foreign policy, particularly in relation to China.

The author argues that Japan has lost its way
way and needs to move away from single-party dominance to recover. Despite the failures of the Democratic Party (DPJ) government from 2009 to 2012, the book explores the reasons for those failures and emphasizes the need for a more pluralist political environment in which vigorous opposition parties can challenge the LDP monopoly of policy and personnel.

The book makes comparisons with other parliamentary democracies, such as the United Kingdom, Australia, and Sweden, to demonstrate that single-party dominance is an inadequate substitute for competition between genuine political alternatives. As an analysis of opposition party politics in post-war Japan, this book will be a valuable resource for students and scholars of Political Science, International Relations, Asian Studies, and Japanese Studies.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032185477